How To Write On One Breath
George Rusky
November 2004
Anyone embarking on a piece of writing, sooner or later, will face a difficulty of expressing one’s thoughts.
Everything seems clear in the head as you think about it; you even try to pronounce separate passages of your future article.
All seems to work!
And yet, something happens when you sit in front of the computer, try to excavate the words from your memory and draw them together into sentences.
No, I’m not talking about a writer’s block. Block is, well, another story.
Before we go further, let me ask you this question:” Isn’t it said that we think in words and sentences? If so, why our thoughts do not smoothly go to the screen?”
Before starting writing, I was told to think intensively about what to write, jot down my writing ideas in a note pad or record on the Dictaphone so that not to lose them later. Or, at night, waking up with a start, to fix the dream’s fading images and descriptions into a note pad.
In theory, everything is O.K.
In practice, not always, especially with night night’s half asleep scrawled ‘reportage.’
In the morning, only a general impression of the dream (or nightmare) remains.
Pity.
Sometimes night dreams bring us invaluable material for writing projects.
Listen, what if we had a special ‘smart’ machine to transmit our thoughts directly onto the screen of a computer, just without hands, fingers, keyboard, desk, desk lamp, and so on?
Imagine, you sit in a comfy armchair sipping a beer and create literary pearls?
Or, you sleep, and everything is read from your brain directly to the computer, or whatever it can be?
What is more, the text is edited, corrected, prepared for publishing? All with astounding speed!
“Wow!” you say, “What a challenge! I wish I had such a virtual assistant!”
It’s not harmful to dream, after all. Besides, I’m sure that this gear will definitely come out one day.
But, on the other hand, who can guarantee that the labor of a writing man will become easier?
I’m absolutely sure, whatever tricks the twenty-first century technical progress may play to us, and whatever the mechanism of writing may be, an author will always carry a burden of responsibility for what she wrote, whether she’d done it with the top speed of a super-modern writing gear, or scribbled it with a goose-quill.
O.K. With inability to transform thoughts into the words, the responsibility for evil-writing is clear, but what do you recommend?
I’m glad, you asked.
Without further ado, here we go.
First.
Write, write, write, and then read.
Write quickly what comes out from your brain. Main point- to place on the screen the more lines you can, not to lose anything that has been stored in your memory.
Second.
When you feel that you wrote yourself out, come back to what you have written and read the text loudly.
Third.
Read the text as quickly as possible to move forward the narrative where it had been stopped.
Fourth.
Go on typing as much as you can, completely ignore green and read wavy lines which may appear on the screen.
Fifth.
As long as you’ve written as much as you think you could, it is the time to start looking critically at what you have produced.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
How To Write As You Talk.
How To Write As You Talk.
George Rusky
October 2004
One of the most frequent instructions we receive from the copywriting authorities who want us to write better is: write as you talk.
O.K. I, personally, agree. I’m not against it.
As a former teacher of history I am used to talk a lot.
As a current business consultant I also talk much. Sometimes my wife says:”You talk too much,” and she is probably right.
Whenever it happens, I, trying to defend my orator’s status, boldly declare:” I’m paid for what I say, darling! If I shut up, as you wish, we won’t be able to shell out the bills with all the ensuing consequences.”
I don’t know if she agrees, but her malicious attacks discontinue. Not for a long time, though :-)
Now, as I started writing articles, the same story repeats.
This time it goes:”What is the point of spending (she definitely wanted to say: ’wasting’) that much time in front of you computer, writing God knows what!”
“You’d better…” then follow variants of more lucrative activities for my heart, body, soul, and family affairs, of course.
This time I can’t say, I’m paid for that. I hope to be, one day, one glorious day!
So, anyway, everything is in a good time.
But, back to talking –writing tandem.
As I said, the idea of writing as you talk is fine. But the question of questions is: “Do I talk good enough, to transfer my talking on the paper, or rather, on the screen of the computer?”
“What if not? What if my talking is under the level acceptable for writing?”
Last week I had an amazing discussion with my clients about telling stories.
“What is a good storyteller?” I asked them.
To my entire surprise, seven out of eight participants of the talk announced they were not good storytellers and thus could not think of entertaining their listeners by telling stories!
Wow! A discovery?
Hardly so.
Speaking to the audience is a talent, a gift, a matter of years of drilling, mastering.
Does that mean we first need to master the way how we speak to people, communicate with them, influence them and persuade them to do what we want them to do?
Before joining a local speaking club, let’s put everything on their right places and sort out what we already have.
First.
Notwithstanding the way you talk, you have the right to record your words for someone to read. Period.
Think of a note your write to you next of keen, say, about your unplanned trip, or asking your son to walk your dog, or go to a grocery. You write it in the same way as you talk to you son. Anything odd will not work. I always put something like this: “Walk out Cristina!” Short, clear.
Second.
As you write, always think about your readers. Will they accept your writing as good time investment for them? Do they read your stuff as a side-line work, or they devote to it their prime time?
Third.
Never ever try to show off, to display your knowledge, however deep it may be. Unsolicited demonstration of knowledge will draw away your readers.
Imagine, how stupid it may sound, if you talk to a waitress :” I wonder, if you would be kind enough to give me a cup of this incredibly smelling blah,blah,blah…”
Fourth.
Writing is an act of addressing to an individual, not to a crowd, to a carefully selected reader.
I know what you are going to say. Books are written for millions, not for individuals.
Well, yes and no.
Consider this. How often you have heard: ”That’s a great movie, you can’t live without it?” Or:” This book is just a masterpiece, a must for everyone”
You go to the movie, you read a couple of pages of the book. Not much impressed.
Something in them did not touch you.
So, I will repeat that: as a writer, you must know who your reader is and what she wants to find in your writing.
Fifth.
Always try to talk to your readers, to ask for their feedback. If only there’s something you feel they want different, or they dislike, immediately change it.
As a bearded maxim goes:” He who pays - orders the music”
Sixth.
Once and forever identify your stand of a writer: you are on-line to serve your readers, not to cherish your ego. Chose the motto for your on-line presence: “At your service!”
Sevenths:
What ever you write, always do it with love. Love your writing, and others will love that too.
Even though you hope to get some money for your writing, (nothing’s bad about it, is it?) write as if you look into you reader’s eyes and say: “I want to tell you something that will solve all you problems as soon as you hear this.”
When your readers see your love in your sentences, they will pay for your writings their ‘last penny.’
George Rusky
October 2004
One of the most frequent instructions we receive from the copywriting authorities who want us to write better is: write as you talk.
O.K. I, personally, agree. I’m not against it.
As a former teacher of history I am used to talk a lot.
As a current business consultant I also talk much. Sometimes my wife says:”You talk too much,” and she is probably right.
Whenever it happens, I, trying to defend my orator’s status, boldly declare:” I’m paid for what I say, darling! If I shut up, as you wish, we won’t be able to shell out the bills with all the ensuing consequences.”
I don’t know if she agrees, but her malicious attacks discontinue. Not for a long time, though :-)
Now, as I started writing articles, the same story repeats.
This time it goes:”What is the point of spending (she definitely wanted to say: ’wasting’) that much time in front of you computer, writing God knows what!”
“You’d better…” then follow variants of more lucrative activities for my heart, body, soul, and family affairs, of course.
This time I can’t say, I’m paid for that. I hope to be, one day, one glorious day!
So, anyway, everything is in a good time.
But, back to talking –writing tandem.
As I said, the idea of writing as you talk is fine. But the question of questions is: “Do I talk good enough, to transfer my talking on the paper, or rather, on the screen of the computer?”
“What if not? What if my talking is under the level acceptable for writing?”
Last week I had an amazing discussion with my clients about telling stories.
“What is a good storyteller?” I asked them.
To my entire surprise, seven out of eight participants of the talk announced they were not good storytellers and thus could not think of entertaining their listeners by telling stories!
Wow! A discovery?
Hardly so.
Speaking to the audience is a talent, a gift, a matter of years of drilling, mastering.
Does that mean we first need to master the way how we speak to people, communicate with them, influence them and persuade them to do what we want them to do?
Before joining a local speaking club, let’s put everything on their right places and sort out what we already have.
First.
Notwithstanding the way you talk, you have the right to record your words for someone to read. Period.
Think of a note your write to you next of keen, say, about your unplanned trip, or asking your son to walk your dog, or go to a grocery. You write it in the same way as you talk to you son. Anything odd will not work. I always put something like this: “Walk out Cristina!” Short, clear.
Second.
As you write, always think about your readers. Will they accept your writing as good time investment for them? Do they read your stuff as a side-line work, or they devote to it their prime time?
Third.
Never ever try to show off, to display your knowledge, however deep it may be. Unsolicited demonstration of knowledge will draw away your readers.
Imagine, how stupid it may sound, if you talk to a waitress :” I wonder, if you would be kind enough to give me a cup of this incredibly smelling blah,blah,blah…”
Fourth.
Writing is an act of addressing to an individual, not to a crowd, to a carefully selected reader.
I know what you are going to say. Books are written for millions, not for individuals.
Well, yes and no.
Consider this. How often you have heard: ”That’s a great movie, you can’t live without it?” Or:” This book is just a masterpiece, a must for everyone”
You go to the movie, you read a couple of pages of the book. Not much impressed.
Something in them did not touch you.
So, I will repeat that: as a writer, you must know who your reader is and what she wants to find in your writing.
Fifth.
Always try to talk to your readers, to ask for their feedback. If only there’s something you feel they want different, or they dislike, immediately change it.
As a bearded maxim goes:” He who pays - orders the music”
Sixth.
Once and forever identify your stand of a writer: you are on-line to serve your readers, not to cherish your ego. Chose the motto for your on-line presence: “At your service!”
Sevenths:
What ever you write, always do it with love. Love your writing, and others will love that too.
Even though you hope to get some money for your writing, (nothing’s bad about it, is it?) write as if you look into you reader’s eyes and say: “I want to tell you something that will solve all you problems as soon as you hear this.”
When your readers see your love in your sentences, they will pay for your writings their ‘last penny.’
Saturday, October 16, 2004
How To Speak English In Ten Days.
How To Speak English In Ten Days.
A Course for Total Beginners.
A Message of the Author.
Dear Friend,
I’m sure you know that English has become the World Language, spoken in some countries as the first state language, in others
You can hardly find the area of human activity where this does not occupy a significant position.
In the Czech Republic, as it is in many countries around the world, the number of speakers of English grows every year. How does it happen?
Simple: thousands of children start learning English at basic schools, then continue at secondary schools and so on.
Quite naturally, after several years of school studies, young people speak good English. They can travel, communicate with foreigners or, if they want, find an interesting job.
Of course, you may say: “We are glad that our children can learn English at school.
But we, their parents, we didn’t have much chances to study English at school and now, so many years after school, we need this language. What shall we do?”
Good question.
I’m glad you asked, because
the book you are reading now I wrote for YOU, women and men, who could not study English at school and who need to study this language now, from the scratch.
You know what?
After seven years of teaching beginners of your age, I can say that I understand your problems very well.
Am I right to say that now, at forty-something,
-you have reached a high level in your profession,
-you are an expert in your department,
-you are full of energy and knowledge,
-you want and need to work where you are now, or
-you wish to find another job…and yet,
you can continue to work, use your knowledge or find another job only
If You Speak and Write English.
I agree with you that one thing is to study a foreign language at school, when you are eleven and another is when you work, look after your family, try to find time to rest or chat with your former school-mate, and now… to learn English. I know how difficult it may be. (Please, don’t ask me about my Czech :-))
That is why, since 1997 I’ve constantly thought how to help you with learning English. After years hard work I finally know how to do that.
All you need to start is written in this small book, the rules and exercises to begin and develop your English quickly and easily.
Besides,
I give you my word to personally help you with all you may need to make your studies trouble-free, fast, and funny.
Does it sound good to you? Great!
Let’s not waste our time and immediately go to Unit One.
And, of course, I wish you to speak English as soon as you want!
Good luck,
George Rusky
P.S. To start your course, e-mail me.
A Course for Total Beginners.
A Message of the Author.
Dear Friend,
I’m sure you know that English has become the World Language, spoken in some countries as the first state language, in others
You can hardly find the area of human activity where this does not occupy a significant position.
In the Czech Republic, as it is in many countries around the world, the number of speakers of English grows every year. How does it happen?
Simple: thousands of children start learning English at basic schools, then continue at secondary schools and so on.
Quite naturally, after several years of school studies, young people speak good English. They can travel, communicate with foreigners or, if they want, find an interesting job.
Of course, you may say: “We are glad that our children can learn English at school.
But we, their parents, we didn’t have much chances to study English at school and now, so many years after school, we need this language. What shall we do?”
Good question.
I’m glad you asked, because
the book you are reading now I wrote for YOU, women and men, who could not study English at school and who need to study this language now, from the scratch.
You know what?
After seven years of teaching beginners of your age, I can say that I understand your problems very well.
Am I right to say that now, at forty-something,
-you have reached a high level in your profession,
-you are an expert in your department,
-you are full of energy and knowledge,
-you want and need to work where you are now, or
-you wish to find another job…and yet,
you can continue to work, use your knowledge or find another job only
If You Speak and Write English.
I agree with you that one thing is to study a foreign language at school, when you are eleven and another is when you work, look after your family, try to find time to rest or chat with your former school-mate, and now… to learn English. I know how difficult it may be. (Please, don’t ask me about my Czech :-))
That is why, since 1997 I’ve constantly thought how to help you with learning English. After years hard work I finally know how to do that.
All you need to start is written in this small book, the rules and exercises to begin and develop your English quickly and easily.
Besides,
I give you my word to personally help you with all you may need to make your studies trouble-free, fast, and funny.
Does it sound good to you? Great!
Let’s not waste our time and immediately go to Unit One.
And, of course, I wish you to speak English as soon as you want!
Good luck,
George Rusky
P.S. To start your course, e-mail me.
Monday, September 20, 2004
How To Grow Winning On-Line Imitator.
How To Grow Winning On-Line Imitator.
By George Rusky,
September 2004
Dear Fellow Marketers, without a long introduction, let’s get to the point.
And the point of the article is the question:
“To Imitate or Not?”
If you are among those who see hundreds of ‘lose or gain’ on-line messages, asking to follow pictures, written, audio, video testimonials, in short, duplicate something done, you will understand what I’m talking about.
So, what? To imitate?
”If someone,” you may say, “is worth imitating, why not?”
Then, an obvious question: ”Who is? What is the rule for choosing one/ones?”
Trust me, I’m serious.
In real life, if I want to get in touch with someone who interests me, I often fail to do so: the territory, time, connections, visa regulations, and so on and so forth.
On-line everything is easy: you can contact any one.
And that’s where the problem conceals.
After a week of submitting to a bunch of newsletters and e-zines you know a lot about the ‘flagships’ of today’s Marketing.
And, as the majority of them advocate long sales letters, you can imagine what it takes to go through their materials.
But the worst is, to identify, who to follow, who to imitate, whose actions to repeat.
I believe everything written about gurus, I trust the authors. I love their command of superlative adjectives used in their biz messages!
So, whom to decide in favor of?
Ever experienced the same problem? You have?
Let me tell you what I have come up with.
First.
Chose the on-line entrepreneur according to your life preferences, I mean how she looks, what she produces, how she made her web site, her style of writing, etc
Second.
Try to know as many/much as possible about the master and her business.
Third.
Purchase everything the guru has created: it will help you to propagate her and her business (it is called affiliate)
Fourth.
Whenever is it possible, promote your superior, e.g. your business cards, briefcase, tie, t-shirt, cap, etc.
Fifth.
Write about your trade partner, share the results of working for this business, never exaggerate.
Sixth.
Remain loyal to the chosen one. Rotation on-line is huge, yet trustworthiness counts.
Sevenths.
Imitate the most, if not all, what your leader does. Remember, even if it sounds alien, she/he is the one who caries the ‘burden’ of responsibility for your on-line success.
Eighth.
Make friends with your mentor. Get to know her family. Don’t just look at her as an entrepreneur, see the real person, like you and I.
Ninth.
Attend her workshops, seminars, take part in all her ad campaigns, be active in all she does in his business.
Tenths.
Prove, that your cooperation means a lot for you! As soon as she trusts you as an essential part of her business, an expert, she may invite you to take part in her endeavors, create a new product together.
Joe Robson once was asked to write a book for Ken Evoy. As the result of this creative ‘tandem,’ a book, no, THE book, the gift, “Make Your Words Sell” was given to the world.
Elevenths.
Be ready for biz offers: big businessmen start new projects, and, as it always happens, they look for someone to take care of the old ones. You might be the candidate to take up ‘the baton.’
And the final twelfth.
Think of starting your own business. As soon as you are ready for that, your teacher will help you to take off, to develop and win.
Starting your own successful business, must remain the aim, the crown, the apogee, the zenith of everything you are doing on the Internet.
With this in mind, let me wish you to find your the only one to imitate, and enjoy a happy on-line living!
By George Rusky,
September 2004
Dear Fellow Marketers, without a long introduction, let’s get to the point.
And the point of the article is the question:
“To Imitate or Not?”
If you are among those who see hundreds of ‘lose or gain’ on-line messages, asking to follow pictures, written, audio, video testimonials, in short, duplicate something done, you will understand what I’m talking about.
So, what? To imitate?
”If someone,” you may say, “is worth imitating, why not?”
Then, an obvious question: ”Who is? What is the rule for choosing one/ones?”
Trust me, I’m serious.
In real life, if I want to get in touch with someone who interests me, I often fail to do so: the territory, time, connections, visa regulations, and so on and so forth.
On-line everything is easy: you can contact any one.
And that’s where the problem conceals.
After a week of submitting to a bunch of newsletters and e-zines you know a lot about the ‘flagships’ of today’s Marketing.
And, as the majority of them advocate long sales letters, you can imagine what it takes to go through their materials.
But the worst is, to identify, who to follow, who to imitate, whose actions to repeat.
I believe everything written about gurus, I trust the authors. I love their command of superlative adjectives used in their biz messages!
So, whom to decide in favor of?
Ever experienced the same problem? You have?
Let me tell you what I have come up with.
First.
Chose the on-line entrepreneur according to your life preferences, I mean how she looks, what she produces, how she made her web site, her style of writing, etc
Second.
Try to know as many/much as possible about the master and her business.
Third.
Purchase everything the guru has created: it will help you to propagate her and her business (it is called affiliate)
Fourth.
Whenever is it possible, promote your superior, e.g. your business cards, briefcase, tie, t-shirt, cap, etc.
Fifth.
Write about your trade partner, share the results of working for this business, never exaggerate.
Sixth.
Remain loyal to the chosen one. Rotation on-line is huge, yet trustworthiness counts.
Sevenths.
Imitate the most, if not all, what your leader does. Remember, even if it sounds alien, she/he is the one who caries the ‘burden’ of responsibility for your on-line success.
Eighth.
Make friends with your mentor. Get to know her family. Don’t just look at her as an entrepreneur, see the real person, like you and I.
Ninth.
Attend her workshops, seminars, take part in all her ad campaigns, be active in all she does in his business.
Tenths.
Prove, that your cooperation means a lot for you! As soon as she trusts you as an essential part of her business, an expert, she may invite you to take part in her endeavors, create a new product together.
Joe Robson once was asked to write a book for Ken Evoy. As the result of this creative ‘tandem,’ a book, no, THE book, the gift, “Make Your Words Sell” was given to the world.
Elevenths.
Be ready for biz offers: big businessmen start new projects, and, as it always happens, they look for someone to take care of the old ones. You might be the candidate to take up ‘the baton.’
And the final twelfth.
Think of starting your own business. As soon as you are ready for that, your teacher will help you to take off, to develop and win.
Starting your own successful business, must remain the aim, the crown, the apogee, the zenith of everything you are doing on the Internet.
With this in mind, let me wish you to find your the only one to imitate, and enjoy a happy on-line living!
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
How Many Words Should An Article Contain?
How Many Words Should An Article Contain?
By George Rusky,
August 2004
Have you ever thought of how you start reading a new article? I mean, what do you do first?
Look at a list of pre-things I’d like you to consider before reading articles.
So, what will you start with?
The title?
The author?
The subject?
The short contents of the article?
I, for one, always start with the title of the article. If it grabs my attention, I go to the author, and ...
1. If the writer is known and authoritative, read the article;
2. If un-known, immediately seek the information about the author. Suppose, from the information, it’s not clear about the writer’s expertise.
Then my next step is - the number of the words. If the number of words exceeds 350-450, most probably the article will be left without reading.
Why is that so?
The art of writing articles lies in the ability of an author to advertise her mastery, her business, her mastery to persuade the readers to single out her from her competition, to lead the reader to the Most Wanted Response, which is a click on the link to the article writer’s site, and only this tap of a reader’s point finger is worth writing an article.
Now, where does the above mentioned 350-450 number of words come from? Simple arithmetic:
The Title-8-10 words.
The Lead of the story, the most important paragraph -40-50 words.
The Body of the article, depending on the business may vary from 250 to 300 words.
The Ending may include not more then 50-60 words.
And now, probably, the most important part of the whole article: The information of the writer and her business, not more then 25-35 words.
So, let’s put these figures together:
a) minimum: 40+250+50+25=365
b) maximum: 50+300+60+35=445
These simple calculations surely do not reflect the whole spectrum of writers’ approaches, and only the authors exactly know what and how they want to write.
But, listen up!
The further the writer from tested and proven standards of business writing, the further is she from the Most Wanted Response.
P.S. This article serves as the illustration of the writer’s concept: The Title- 7words The Lead- 51words The Body-242words The Ending-50words The Info about the author-27 (The total number of words is-377)
By George Rusky,
August 2004
Have you ever thought of how you start reading a new article? I mean, what do you do first?
Look at a list of pre-things I’d like you to consider before reading articles.
So, what will you start with?
The title?
The author?
The subject?
The short contents of the article?
I, for one, always start with the title of the article. If it grabs my attention, I go to the author, and ...
1. If the writer is known and authoritative, read the article;
2. If un-known, immediately seek the information about the author. Suppose, from the information, it’s not clear about the writer’s expertise.
Then my next step is - the number of the words. If the number of words exceeds 350-450, most probably the article will be left without reading.
Why is that so?
The art of writing articles lies in the ability of an author to advertise her mastery, her business, her mastery to persuade the readers to single out her from her competition, to lead the reader to the Most Wanted Response, which is a click on the link to the article writer’s site, and only this tap of a reader’s point finger is worth writing an article.
Now, where does the above mentioned 350-450 number of words come from? Simple arithmetic:
The Title-8-10 words.
The Lead of the story, the most important paragraph -40-50 words.
The Body of the article, depending on the business may vary from 250 to 300 words.
The Ending may include not more then 50-60 words.
And now, probably, the most important part of the whole article: The information of the writer and her business, not more then 25-35 words.
So, let’s put these figures together:
a) minimum: 40+250+50+25=365
b) maximum: 50+300+60+35=445
These simple calculations surely do not reflect the whole spectrum of writers’ approaches, and only the authors exactly know what and how they want to write.
But, listen up!
The further the writer from tested and proven standards of business writing, the further is she from the Most Wanted Response.
P.S. This article serves as the illustration of the writer’s concept: The Title- 7words The Lead- 51words The Body-242words The Ending-50words The Info about the author-27 (The total number of words is-377)
Friday, August 20, 2004
How To Find A Topic For Writing
How To Find A Topic For Writing
By George Rusky,
August 2004
In his article “6 Tips That Make “How To” Book Writing A Snap” Jeff Smith recommends: “Pick a topic that people want to read about AND that you are passionate about.”
So, what can be a better advice for writing?
Write, right?
O.K. Let’s pick a topic people want to read about...
Suddenly I caught myself on thinking about writing as a human activity, when and how it was born, for what purpose and, what topics ancient people wanted to read about.
According to Microsoft Encarta 98 encyclopedia, Writing is “Method of human intercommunication by means of arbitrary visual marks forming a system.” When and why and how was this ‘system of arbitrary visual marks formed’?
I imagined a group of people living on a separated territory, thousands years ago, using for communication only their voice and body language… What might have been a motive, a need or any other stimulus for recording words or pictures people used every day? From our own experience we know that writing is directly connected with reading.
A winged maxim: "Write for someone to read" is known to anyone who had ever embarked on a piece of writing. Who and why and how could need a new method of communication, as an alternative to already existing one, verbal?
Speculation One.
a) Sending a written message to someone. (No mobile phones, no telegraph, no radio or TV. No pigeons.) Hardly so. Messengers were widely used for delivering good or bad news (extremely dangerous mission: in some cases ended deplorably for heralds of evil news.)
b)Sending a secret message to a distant correspondent who knew the language in which the message was penned. Sounds more or less probable. But how often could such correspondence occur?
Speculation Two.
While some men-warriors spent time hunting and fishing or, perhaps, fighting, others could depict the deeds of the first, say, on the walls of their caves. In fact, hundreds of cave drawings were found here and there to prove this theory. Let’s imagine, for a moment, someone, who saw the picture on the wall, where his exploits might have been portrayed.
What could be his natural reaction? Of course, to try to notice a resemblance. Cave pictures, however, did not bare a high level of mastery, were performed quite primitively, and thus could hardly looked like the original.
A natural question:”How to place a name of a personage next to the drawing?” An ancient painter had a home work!
Speculation Three.
I guess, writing as the way of recording events or someone’s deeds could not emerge in a primitive society, where all members had equal rights and therefore no one claimed a privilege to occupy a special place or position in the tribe. Most probably writing appeared when there was a demand to document life stories of outstanding people of those days.
It is not incidentally that most of ancient graphic arts depict heroic deeds of emperors, tsars, kings and pharaohs who may have ordered to invent an extra way of describing their unique role in the life of their people.
So, as a result and logical continuation of fine arts, followed written comments. The final speculation is about a significant role of clergymen who in all times had been the most educated group in any ancient human formations.
Serving gods led the clergymen to inventing the way for recording everything connected with their ministry.
Resume.
1.Writing came into existence as a result of natural development of human society and since the early days of human history, has occupied a prominent place in the row of most significant inventions of all times.
2.At the outset writing was a privilege of a limited group of learned people who wanted to remain their exceptional status.
3.Writing met the needs of ruling classes, primarily for the records of glorious deeds of reigning dynasties.
4.In ancient Assyro-Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, civilizations literature had a vast variety of styles and genres, long lists of bright names of authors, founders of classical drama, comedy, poetry, prose, religious, historical, philosophical writings.
5. For the last 5,000 years the list of most wanted topics had not been changed at all. (I’m not sure, if ancient wordsmiths wrote much about marketing, say, in Athens of 2004 BC :-) )
Conclusion:
Write about evergreen topics:
-family,
-health,
-human relations,
-business,
-love,
AND you won’t fail to win your audience!
By George Rusky,
August 2004
In his article “6 Tips That Make “How To” Book Writing A Snap” Jeff Smith recommends: “Pick a topic that people want to read about AND that you are passionate about.”
So, what can be a better advice for writing?
Write, right?
O.K. Let’s pick a topic people want to read about...
Suddenly I caught myself on thinking about writing as a human activity, when and how it was born, for what purpose and, what topics ancient people wanted to read about.
According to Microsoft Encarta 98 encyclopedia, Writing is “Method of human intercommunication by means of arbitrary visual marks forming a system.” When and why and how was this ‘system of arbitrary visual marks formed’?
I imagined a group of people living on a separated territory, thousands years ago, using for communication only their voice and body language… What might have been a motive, a need or any other stimulus for recording words or pictures people used every day? From our own experience we know that writing is directly connected with reading.
A winged maxim: "Write for someone to read" is known to anyone who had ever embarked on a piece of writing. Who and why and how could need a new method of communication, as an alternative to already existing one, verbal?
Speculation One.
a) Sending a written message to someone. (No mobile phones, no telegraph, no radio or TV. No pigeons.) Hardly so. Messengers were widely used for delivering good or bad news (extremely dangerous mission: in some cases ended deplorably for heralds of evil news.)
b)Sending a secret message to a distant correspondent who knew the language in which the message was penned. Sounds more or less probable. But how often could such correspondence occur?
Speculation Two.
While some men-warriors spent time hunting and fishing or, perhaps, fighting, others could depict the deeds of the first, say, on the walls of their caves. In fact, hundreds of cave drawings were found here and there to prove this theory. Let’s imagine, for a moment, someone, who saw the picture on the wall, where his exploits might have been portrayed.
What could be his natural reaction? Of course, to try to notice a resemblance. Cave pictures, however, did not bare a high level of mastery, were performed quite primitively, and thus could hardly looked like the original.
A natural question:”How to place a name of a personage next to the drawing?” An ancient painter had a home work!
Speculation Three.
I guess, writing as the way of recording events or someone’s deeds could not emerge in a primitive society, where all members had equal rights and therefore no one claimed a privilege to occupy a special place or position in the tribe. Most probably writing appeared when there was a demand to document life stories of outstanding people of those days.
It is not incidentally that most of ancient graphic arts depict heroic deeds of emperors, tsars, kings and pharaohs who may have ordered to invent an extra way of describing their unique role in the life of their people.
So, as a result and logical continuation of fine arts, followed written comments. The final speculation is about a significant role of clergymen who in all times had been the most educated group in any ancient human formations.
Serving gods led the clergymen to inventing the way for recording everything connected with their ministry.
Resume.
1.Writing came into existence as a result of natural development of human society and since the early days of human history, has occupied a prominent place in the row of most significant inventions of all times.
2.At the outset writing was a privilege of a limited group of learned people who wanted to remain their exceptional status.
3.Writing met the needs of ruling classes, primarily for the records of glorious deeds of reigning dynasties.
4.In ancient Assyro-Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, civilizations literature had a vast variety of styles and genres, long lists of bright names of authors, founders of classical drama, comedy, poetry, prose, religious, historical, philosophical writings.
5. For the last 5,000 years the list of most wanted topics had not been changed at all. (I’m not sure, if ancient wordsmiths wrote much about marketing, say, in Athens of 2004 BC :-) )
Conclusion:
Write about evergreen topics:
-family,
-health,
-human relations,
-business,
-love,
AND you won’t fail to win your audience!
Sunday, June 13, 2004
The Articles Full Of Clichés, Or The Challenge To Writing Authorities.
The Articles Full Of Clichés, Or The Challenge To Writing Authorities.
George Rusky
June 2004
Dear Fellow-writes,
I’ve discovered something fantastic about writing!
Contrary to a well-known concept of maximum concentration while writing, advocate of which I’ve been for decades, the new approach, or method or, whatever you may be inclined to name, of writing, literally had taken me aback.
Hear this; I’m talking about writing to the music.
A flashback.
A short while ago I was writing a long message to my wife, trying to find appropriate words and expressions. After having lived together for nearly three decades, it’s not always that simple. The radio was on, sort of a political discussion.
All of a sudden, a beautiful music started. As a long time music lover I naturally lent an air to this melody. The more I listened the more I fell under the influence of the tunes.
But what was the most amazing that immediately I started drumming the words on the key board as if I wanted to translate the piano music into the computer.
Reminiscences of happy years spent with Lady S. from long forgotten past revealed in small details so vividly as if they took place a few days ago.
The music stopped, I rushed to switch the radio off and under the impulse I had gotten, I finished the writing.
Excited, I read what I’ve written. Boy, was that gorgeous!
After a quick editing, I hit the send button.
Lady S. was shocked! As you may well guess, the natural question of hers was if I had been drunk.
Well, you know how it goes.
Inspired by such an unexpected result, I tried some more samples of music and found out that diverse musical styles and fashions help with writing differently.
Here’s something I have discovered.
Dynamic, energetic, full of movement melodies, for example, help out with writing sales letters, something motivational, especially if your writing is directed to future,
while calm melodic tunes make us feel sad, even depressed, cast a gloom over past experiences.
A word of caution, though: the music must be instrumental, without words.
Why? The words grab our attention, mix up with the words we are writing.
These are in a nutshell the basic lines of my ‘theory.’
Interested?
Write to me about your experience, we may all benefit from such an exchange.
George Rusky
June 2004
Dear Fellow-writes,
I’ve discovered something fantastic about writing!
Contrary to a well-known concept of maximum concentration while writing, advocate of which I’ve been for decades, the new approach, or method or, whatever you may be inclined to name, of writing, literally had taken me aback.
Hear this; I’m talking about writing to the music.
A flashback.
A short while ago I was writing a long message to my wife, trying to find appropriate words and expressions. After having lived together for nearly three decades, it’s not always that simple. The radio was on, sort of a political discussion.
All of a sudden, a beautiful music started. As a long time music lover I naturally lent an air to this melody. The more I listened the more I fell under the influence of the tunes.
But what was the most amazing that immediately I started drumming the words on the key board as if I wanted to translate the piano music into the computer.
Reminiscences of happy years spent with Lady S. from long forgotten past revealed in small details so vividly as if they took place a few days ago.
The music stopped, I rushed to switch the radio off and under the impulse I had gotten, I finished the writing.
Excited, I read what I’ve written. Boy, was that gorgeous!
After a quick editing, I hit the send button.
Lady S. was shocked! As you may well guess, the natural question of hers was if I had been drunk.
Well, you know how it goes.
Inspired by such an unexpected result, I tried some more samples of music and found out that diverse musical styles and fashions help with writing differently.
Here’s something I have discovered.
Dynamic, energetic, full of movement melodies, for example, help out with writing sales letters, something motivational, especially if your writing is directed to future,
while calm melodic tunes make us feel sad, even depressed, cast a gloom over past experiences.
A word of caution, though: the music must be instrumental, without words.
Why? The words grab our attention, mix up with the words we are writing.
These are in a nutshell the basic lines of my ‘theory.’
Interested?
Write to me about your experience, we may all benefit from such an exchange.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
A Conversation In A Subway Train
A Conversation In A Subway Train
George Rusky
May 2004
"…For this money I would have never started even thinking of making that myself! "
I came closer to two women talking about a crocheted bag, which was the subject of their conversation.
"It’s a waste of time for me," went on the owner of the bag. "I can afford to pay the cost, but as I think about the time and efforts invested into making such a bag, I don’t understand how one can make it!"
The other woman was wearing a knitted jacket, which I guess she had made herself, was just smiling…
As it has become a habit to think about S. when I see or hear about crocheting, my thoughts immediately went to her.
She’s been working with needles and crochets for nearly forty years, had made hundreds of garments, and had never earned a dollar for any of her projects.
"Waste of time…" May be for some people it really is. But, not for S.
For her crocheting is the way of living, the whole philosophy!
Do you know this 'ancient,' quotation:" Do what you love doing and money will come!"
Love, the everlasting locomotive of all our existence! Passion and love to whatever we are doing in this world are the keys to happiness, wealth, success.
This is why, when I offered to S. to create a web site for crocheters, she loved that idea at 'first hearing' I will not bore you with description of hard work of creating our first web-baby, the work which is now in progress...
Another factor that helps us is our faith that everything we are doing will be useful for crocheters.
George Rusky
May 2004
"…For this money I would have never started even thinking of making that myself! "
I came closer to two women talking about a crocheted bag, which was the subject of their conversation.
"It’s a waste of time for me," went on the owner of the bag. "I can afford to pay the cost, but as I think about the time and efforts invested into making such a bag, I don’t understand how one can make it!"
The other woman was wearing a knitted jacket, which I guess she had made herself, was just smiling…
As it has become a habit to think about S. when I see or hear about crocheting, my thoughts immediately went to her.
She’s been working with needles and crochets for nearly forty years, had made hundreds of garments, and had never earned a dollar for any of her projects.
"Waste of time…" May be for some people it really is. But, not for S.
For her crocheting is the way of living, the whole philosophy!
Do you know this 'ancient,' quotation:" Do what you love doing and money will come!"
Love, the everlasting locomotive of all our existence! Passion and love to whatever we are doing in this world are the keys to happiness, wealth, success.
This is why, when I offered to S. to create a web site for crocheters, she loved that idea at 'first hearing' I will not bore you with description of hard work of creating our first web-baby, the work which is now in progress...
Another factor that helps us is our faith that everything we are doing will be useful for crocheters.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The Temptation of George Rusky.
The Temptation of George Rusky.
By George Rusky,
Prague 2004
Dear Friends,
I’m writing to you because I want to share with you some of my concerns and
ask you for help.
It’s about Internet, of course.
The biggest problem caused by the Internet, as I can see it, is the openness and accessibility to an unlimited amount of information.
Naturally, one who can touch a key board at least with one finger, should accept the internet with all its good and evil as an incredible invention of all times.
That’s one side of the coin.
Another one is that I’m, for one, is totally lost in the ocean of on-line offers; one is more seductive than other.
”The best method of creating your wealth on line…” shouts at us a sales letter.
“The most progressive ever way of building your list of subscribers…”hollers another.
Tens if not hundreds of messages (most of them, certainly, unsolicited) call us to prosperity on line.
I don’t know about you, but I was raised to respect the word written. It’s not only The Constitution , laws of the state, school textbooks, manuals, instructions, notes, you name it!
The Bible, of course. I will always remember a notorious question my Pastor used to ask me: ”What is written in the Bible about it?”
Looked like for every problem one had ever experienced, Pastor could find the answer in the Bible.
In short, the miraculous power of the word, written in my heart, is written ‘in stone.’
Now, when I read the unlimited list of superlative adjectives of sales letters I feel desperate, thriving to find out ‘where the dog is hidden.’
The messages where the writers start saying:
”Don’t you lose this one in your whole life opportunity, etc”
I wonder, if one can find a pumpkin, who would wish to lose his one time in his whole life chance?
So, I click the link, open the web site and read a special report, nicely formatted, highlighted, emphasized, splashing good news into my face, raping me with ‘order, order, order, and again, order.’
But that’s not all!
“If you order before midnight,” it says, “you will sure get tons of bonuses, so don’t tarry!”
I move aside from my desk everything, spilling a cup of coffee I was advised to grasp before reading a message, fumbling for my ‘electronic wallet’ and just about to fill in the form…
Thanks the Lord, it is still necessary to fill in the form, the last chance to escape the hypnotic daze of the sales letter, cool down, and recover from the fog of a ‘narcotic’ power of the commercial offer.
Uff, sweating and shivering, I regain consciousness, trying to think about something else and put off the hanging above me horrendous cloud of doubt: ”What if this is that one chance from a thousand , which just come only to bold and smart individuals, who, after just a few months report to us:
”I come back to gloomy days of the winter 200? when I didn’t have any money to pay the bills, to do this and that, etc, unless I met John Smith who showed me the big picture… so now my life has completely changed. Look at my house, I bought a week ago and a new car I’m thinking of buying, and, so on.”
To resist this temptation is beyond my power.
I grasp my right hand so that not to click the desirable link taking me to the treasures island where money grows on the trees and one can experience joy and gladness because one blessed day she clicked this miraculous link!
Paradise lost?
No, Mr Milton,
Paradise found…
Instead of an epilog.
After nearly four years of trying to find a ‘Magic formula’ for getting rich on the Internet, I’m still where I was last century.
“If I could do it, you can too…”
“Can I?”
By George Rusky,
Prague 2004
Dear Friends,
I’m writing to you because I want to share with you some of my concerns and
ask you for help.
It’s about Internet, of course.
The biggest problem caused by the Internet, as I can see it, is the openness and accessibility to an unlimited amount of information.
Naturally, one who can touch a key board at least with one finger, should accept the internet with all its good and evil as an incredible invention of all times.
That’s one side of the coin.
Another one is that I’m, for one, is totally lost in the ocean of on-line offers; one is more seductive than other.
”The best method of creating your wealth on line…” shouts at us a sales letter.
“The most progressive ever way of building your list of subscribers…”hollers another.
Tens if not hundreds of messages (most of them, certainly, unsolicited) call us to prosperity on line.
I don’t know about you, but I was raised to respect the word written. It’s not only The Constitution , laws of the state, school textbooks, manuals, instructions, notes, you name it!
The Bible, of course. I will always remember a notorious question my Pastor used to ask me: ”What is written in the Bible about it?”
Looked like for every problem one had ever experienced, Pastor could find the answer in the Bible.
In short, the miraculous power of the word, written in my heart, is written ‘in stone.’
Now, when I read the unlimited list of superlative adjectives of sales letters I feel desperate, thriving to find out ‘where the dog is hidden.’
The messages where the writers start saying:
”Don’t you lose this one in your whole life opportunity, etc”
I wonder, if one can find a pumpkin, who would wish to lose his one time in his whole life chance?
So, I click the link, open the web site and read a special report, nicely formatted, highlighted, emphasized, splashing good news into my face, raping me with ‘order, order, order, and again, order.’
But that’s not all!
“If you order before midnight,” it says, “you will sure get tons of bonuses, so don’t tarry!”
I move aside from my desk everything, spilling a cup of coffee I was advised to grasp before reading a message, fumbling for my ‘electronic wallet’ and just about to fill in the form…
Thanks the Lord, it is still necessary to fill in the form, the last chance to escape the hypnotic daze of the sales letter, cool down, and recover from the fog of a ‘narcotic’ power of the commercial offer.
Uff, sweating and shivering, I regain consciousness, trying to think about something else and put off the hanging above me horrendous cloud of doubt: ”What if this is that one chance from a thousand , which just come only to bold and smart individuals, who, after just a few months report to us:
”I come back to gloomy days of the winter 200? when I didn’t have any money to pay the bills, to do this and that, etc, unless I met John Smith who showed me the big picture… so now my life has completely changed. Look at my house, I bought a week ago and a new car I’m thinking of buying, and, so on.”
To resist this temptation is beyond my power.
I grasp my right hand so that not to click the desirable link taking me to the treasures island where money grows on the trees and one can experience joy and gladness because one blessed day she clicked this miraculous link!
Paradise lost?
No, Mr Milton,
Paradise found…
Instead of an epilog.
After nearly four years of trying to find a ‘Magic formula’ for getting rich on the Internet, I’m still where I was last century.
“If I could do it, you can too…”
“Can I?”
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Are We All Writers?
Are We All Writers?
George Rusky
March 2004
As a member of the CWG (Christian Writers Group) on line, I receive a good number of various messages.
The authors of them tell us about their problems, ask for advice or help, share some information, and require critique for their stories.
As it generally goes in the group, somebody asks a question, and if the members of CWG find the subject interesting, or it inspires them to take part in the talk, they send their messages to the group, thus a discussion begins.
Recently, a ‘hot’ discussion has started around the subject Called to write.
Nearly every active member of the group shaped their understanding of what they felt the Lord had called them to write for.
As it appeared, some authors wrote in the field of business, others in fantasy. A number of writers honestly confessed they have been just called to write and were asking for advice how to set off.
The messages, however, can sometimes lead to rather unpredictable discoveries, as it was in the case of Mr.’s N. e- mail.
After a short review of other writers’ ideas about the subject, he briefly introduced himself, saying he had not been a regular contributor to on-line discussions, but this time he “felt obliged to share this with the rest of the group.”
His call to write Mr. N. saw in serving the Lord in writing horror books and carrying out duties of a Chairman of an international organization, a union of writers of horror literature.
“I received this call from the Lord, who clearly let me see my mission in writing horror books,” he wrote on.
“Well,” I said to myself, “Live and learn!”
The message made me thing about it.
I got used to reading the e-mails like “The Lord called me to write. Hey, guys, what to write about?”
Or “ How long should be the sentences and the paragraphs of the story to be approved by editors and published?”
I could go on with the extracts of this kind; there’ve been lots of them.
But this time I didn’t know what to think!
Could we assume that Jesus Christ calls to write horror books?
Could He call to write about violence, sex, pornography, and such like?!
How shall we accept then Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10:
” Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Well, it is not written about authors of horror books, though.
What does worry me in all these sharing, that their authors do not realize one crucial point: when God chooses us, His servants, for His mission it is a great honor for us and privilege to be His part-takers. It’s an awesome responsibility too.
Moreover, when it does happen, He gives all necessary ‘instructions’ for carrying out His divine task. Whether we want it or we don’t, we are just nominated to do what our heavenly Father wants us to do. Period.
The Bible is full of such examples. Let’s recall just a few of them, shall we?
Moses,
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Ex.3:11)
The Father’s answer in the next twelfth verse:“ And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;…”
From that moment onwards, the Father ‘tutors’ Moses till the day, when Moses, performed everything for which he had been brought into this world.
David.
Why was he chosen by our creator to fulfill His intentions? We read:
” But the LORD said unto Samuel… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)
From that moment onwards the Father is with David, teaching the king how to live and serve his nation.
Hosea.
Can we, men, imagine someone from our dearest tell us to marry a harlot?
What if our father would say that?
“And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms… “ (Hosea 1:2)
Hosea accepts this command from the Father in Heaven with no questions asked:
“So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.”
From that moment onwards God leads Hosea all along the way telling him what to do.
Jonah.
When God calls Jonah to preach repentance to the Ninevites, the latter turns down the assignment and tries to flee. But God is serious about His command. He has appointed Jonah, and that means there’s only one way for him - to follow God’s will.
Habakkuk.
The Lord God instructs Habakkuk what to write and how to write:
“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
Habakkuk acknowledges the command from the LORD with gladness:
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (3:18)
Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother.
Jesus said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt.4:19)
From that time onwards the Lord leads them till the last breathe of their lives.
Saul from Tarsus.
The Lord talks to Saul, on the way to Damascus:
“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”(Acts 9:6)
From that moment the Lord had been with Saul-Paul teaching him what to say, what to do, and what to write till the day of Paul’s death.
These are just a few well-known names from the Bible.
How many Christians do we know, that, having heard the voice of the Lord, answered the call and gave their lives to the Lord?
I’m sure, everyone can tell us about some.
So, what is in it for us?
We all like talking about our position in the body of Christ, referring to the epistle to the Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” or: 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
The gifts of the Lord are an obligatory topic of our Bible studies.
We also try to place ourselves in the church of the Lord according to the call we have received (or, rather, we think, we have).
There’s nothing wrong about it, is there?
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7) (italics are added)
Grace is given, dear brethrens!
The Lord gives the gifts and provides everything for the realization of His gifts.
What is grace for a pastor? His flock!
What is grace for an elder? Wisdom for governing the church.
What is grace for the teacher? Clear delivering of the message of the Lord.
What is grace for the healer? To heal the body and heart of a sinner.
What is grace for a Christian writer…?
To answer the call of the Lord, to be His instrument by performing His Father’s will of
saving sinners, and to do that thru our writing!
The Father sent His son to the world to save the world!
We have no right to write about anything except this theme.
Isn’t it what we are here in the world for?
We are pastors -our readers are our flock.
We are the light to the world -we call sinners to repent and give their hearts to the Lord.
We are elders -we look after our readership.
We are evangelists -we educate our readers according to the word of God.
We are teachers-we teach our readers the God’s truth.
We are translators -in our writings we help readers to understand the scriptures better...
These are just few tasks we have to carry out, if we really claim to be Christian writers.
In his work Telling the Truth Dr. Marvin Olasky wrote:
“If even fifty new, talented, biblically directed journalists were to emerge in America during the next few years, the revitalization of Christian Journalism would be well under way…”
My thoughts are interrupted by a nice melody coming out from my computer: another e-message has been delivered.
It says: ”Hi, I’m new to the group. I feel God called me to write…”
I close my eyes and pray the Lord that this new called writer will say she desires to write for His glory!
Amen!
George Rusky
March 2004
As a member of the CWG (Christian Writers Group) on line, I receive a good number of various messages.
The authors of them tell us about their problems, ask for advice or help, share some information, and require critique for their stories.
As it generally goes in the group, somebody asks a question, and if the members of CWG find the subject interesting, or it inspires them to take part in the talk, they send their messages to the group, thus a discussion begins.
Recently, a ‘hot’ discussion has started around the subject Called to write.
Nearly every active member of the group shaped their understanding of what they felt the Lord had called them to write for.
As it appeared, some authors wrote in the field of business, others in fantasy. A number of writers honestly confessed they have been just called to write and were asking for advice how to set off.
The messages, however, can sometimes lead to rather unpredictable discoveries, as it was in the case of Mr.’s N. e- mail.
After a short review of other writers’ ideas about the subject, he briefly introduced himself, saying he had not been a regular contributor to on-line discussions, but this time he “felt obliged to share this with the rest of the group.”
His call to write Mr. N. saw in serving the Lord in writing horror books and carrying out duties of a Chairman of an international organization, a union of writers of horror literature.
“I received this call from the Lord, who clearly let me see my mission in writing horror books,” he wrote on.
“Well,” I said to myself, “Live and learn!”
The message made me thing about it.
I got used to reading the e-mails like “The Lord called me to write. Hey, guys, what to write about?”
Or “ How long should be the sentences and the paragraphs of the story to be approved by editors and published?”
I could go on with the extracts of this kind; there’ve been lots of them.
But this time I didn’t know what to think!
Could we assume that Jesus Christ calls to write horror books?
Could He call to write about violence, sex, pornography, and such like?!
How shall we accept then Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10:
” Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Well, it is not written about authors of horror books, though.
What does worry me in all these sharing, that their authors do not realize one crucial point: when God chooses us, His servants, for His mission it is a great honor for us and privilege to be His part-takers. It’s an awesome responsibility too.
Moreover, when it does happen, He gives all necessary ‘instructions’ for carrying out His divine task. Whether we want it or we don’t, we are just nominated to do what our heavenly Father wants us to do. Period.
The Bible is full of such examples. Let’s recall just a few of them, shall we?
Moses,
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Ex.3:11)
The Father’s answer in the next twelfth verse:“ And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;…”
From that moment onwards, the Father ‘tutors’ Moses till the day, when Moses, performed everything for which he had been brought into this world.
David.
Why was he chosen by our creator to fulfill His intentions? We read:
” But the LORD said unto Samuel… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)
From that moment onwards the Father is with David, teaching the king how to live and serve his nation.
Hosea.
Can we, men, imagine someone from our dearest tell us to marry a harlot?
What if our father would say that?
“And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms… “ (Hosea 1:2)
Hosea accepts this command from the Father in Heaven with no questions asked:
“So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.”
From that moment onwards God leads Hosea all along the way telling him what to do.
Jonah.
When God calls Jonah to preach repentance to the Ninevites, the latter turns down the assignment and tries to flee. But God is serious about His command. He has appointed Jonah, and that means there’s only one way for him - to follow God’s will.
Habakkuk.
The Lord God instructs Habakkuk what to write and how to write:
“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
Habakkuk acknowledges the command from the LORD with gladness:
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (3:18)
Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother.
Jesus said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt.4:19)
From that time onwards the Lord leads them till the last breathe of their lives.
Saul from Tarsus.
The Lord talks to Saul, on the way to Damascus:
“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”(Acts 9:6)
From that moment the Lord had been with Saul-Paul teaching him what to say, what to do, and what to write till the day of Paul’s death.
These are just a few well-known names from the Bible.
How many Christians do we know, that, having heard the voice of the Lord, answered the call and gave their lives to the Lord?
I’m sure, everyone can tell us about some.
So, what is in it for us?
We all like talking about our position in the body of Christ, referring to the epistle to the Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” or: 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
The gifts of the Lord are an obligatory topic of our Bible studies.
We also try to place ourselves in the church of the Lord according to the call we have received (or, rather, we think, we have).
There’s nothing wrong about it, is there?
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7) (italics are added)
Grace is given, dear brethrens!
The Lord gives the gifts and provides everything for the realization of His gifts.
What is grace for a pastor? His flock!
What is grace for an elder? Wisdom for governing the church.
What is grace for the teacher? Clear delivering of the message of the Lord.
What is grace for the healer? To heal the body and heart of a sinner.
What is grace for a Christian writer…?
To answer the call of the Lord, to be His instrument by performing His Father’s will of
saving sinners, and to do that thru our writing!
The Father sent His son to the world to save the world!
We have no right to write about anything except this theme.
Isn’t it what we are here in the world for?
We are pastors -our readers are our flock.
We are the light to the world -we call sinners to repent and give their hearts to the Lord.
We are elders -we look after our readership.
We are evangelists -we educate our readers according to the word of God.
We are teachers-we teach our readers the God’s truth.
We are translators -in our writings we help readers to understand the scriptures better...
These are just few tasks we have to carry out, if we really claim to be Christian writers.
In his work Telling the Truth Dr. Marvin Olasky wrote:
“If even fifty new, talented, biblically directed journalists were to emerge in America during the next few years, the revitalization of Christian Journalism would be well under way…”
My thoughts are interrupted by a nice melody coming out from my computer: another e-message has been delivered.
It says: ”Hi, I’m new to the group. I feel God called me to write…”
I close my eyes and pray the Lord that this new called writer will say she desires to write for His glory!
Amen!
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