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Rick Barry
Indiana
Rick Barry has authored over 200 articles and short stories, plus three published novels. His third novel is from Kregel Publications: a suspense tale called The Methuselah Project. Visit Rick at www.rickcbarry.com.
Interests: Christian missions, World War II history, YA literature, Suspense novels, foreign languages, international travel.
Recent Activity
Wow, Al. Quite a powerhouse lineup of faculty! Some of these I'm pleased to know, and others I would enjoy meeting. No doubt you will draw a good attendance!
Announcing the 2016 BRMCWC Faculty
AGENTS Sally Apokedak Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency Sally Apokedak is an associate agent with the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. She’s been studying, reviewing, and marketing children’s books, as well as giving writing instruction for a dozen years. As the manager of the Kidz Book Buz...
All very good reminders, Edie. Thanks! So easy to forget such tips in our hurry to say what we wish to say.
Get More Comments on Your Blog with These 11 Tips
By Edie Melson @EdieMelson Even today—with as many blogs on the Internet as there are—blogging is still a valuable part of building and maintaining an online community. But it’s rare for a blog to take hold and grow—if it’s not a place where comments proliferate. Almost no one likes to be lec...
Good stuff, Al. I've always tried to be a linear thinker, but I was only halfway through my latest novel when suddenly I had a vision for the perfect final chapter. Before I could forget the vision, I fast-forwarded to write the conclusion. It felt like heresy at the time, but now I'm realizing many authors skip over hard parts.
Some sci-fi writers jot the words [techno babble] into the script when they know they need a scientific gizmo or explanation and don't want to stop the flow of creativity at that moment.
You have just aided many writers!
Crossword Puzzle or Crossword Solution
By Alton Gansky MOST DAYS, I do a crossword puzzle. It's a fairly new thing for me. I wasn't a fan but when I started getting USA Today on my iPad I began playing around with their daily puzzle. At first, it was tough. I had no experience with such things and every clue seemed designed to ...
What an interesting and uplifting story about the birth of a book idea. Thanks for sharing, Al!
The Book I Didn’t Want to Write
A little less than a decade ago my phone rang. On the other end was an editor I knew. He had a book idea for me, something that always makes me a little nervous. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always giddy when an editor reaches out to me instead of me try my best to get the editor’s attention, so I ...
Good stuff, Edie. I'm sure you've shortened the learning curve for some aspiring writers!
What is a One Sheet Anyway?
by Edie Melson For those of you getting ready for a big writers conference you may have heard about the need for a One Sheet. This tool is also known as a Pitch Sheet. It’s a one page presentation of the project you’re pitching to an editor or agent. Today I’ll be explaining how to put one to...
So glad to see Dawn Anderson will be aboard. Although Kregel had already accepted my next novel by the time I met her last September, I found Dawn to be extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.I have no doubt her classes will be terrific!
(I'm sure Erin's will be fantastic, too. I just don't have the personal acquaintance yet to back up that prediction. ;) )
Say "Howdy" to Two More Faculty
Meet our newest additions to the BR2105 faculty. Dawn Anderson Associate Editor, Kregel Publications Dawn Anderson (Associate Editor, Kregel Publications) passionately loves the career to which God has drawn her. A graduate of Cornerstone University with an English major and a psychology m...
All excellent points, Edie. I especially like #9. When my words first hit the page, there's a whole lot of junk there. But it's like making a snow sculpture: you have to accumulate a pile of "stuff" before you can trim, shape, and fashion it into a thing people want to look at.
Blessings to you!
10 Tips for Feeding Your Writer’s Soul
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson Writing is hard work, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We spend hours at a computer, neglecting exercise and proper posture. Beyond that, we pour our hearts and souls into the words we arrange into stories, articles, even blog posts. We spend time and money l...
All excellent points, Al. Although writers without ethics may feel at liberty to paint others with whatever brush they wish, authors seeking to be conformed to the image of Christ do well to keep in mind that it's Truth that shall set people free, not cunningly manipulated fiction.
The folks at Answers magazine (from Answers in Genesis) have produced some good articles and a DVD revealing the actual facts behind this trial. As helpful as these are, they will not affect the majority who base their beliefs on the movie version.
The Need for Factual Fiction
In January of 2015, Baker Books will release my latest nonfiction work, 30 Events That Shaped the Church. It comes on the heels of the 2014 release, 60 People Who Shaped the Church. Some are surprised to learn that I write book-length nonfiction. True most of my books are novels but I also enj...
Thanks for the interview. I had the pleasure of sitting in Don's class at a past Blue Ridge conference. When he overheard me say something in Russian, Don surprised me by responding in Russian too. We chatted in Russian a few moments before I realized everyone else was staring and waiting for the subtitles. Lol.
Writer's Talk #70: Don Brown "Destiny"
In this week's Writer's Talk, I spend time chatting with Don Brown, former Navy JAG officer, attorney, and novelist with 10 books to his credit. Don has something else about him that makes him special to me and to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. In the interview, Don an...
Enjoyed this very much, Al. Love the humor you mixed into the batter of memories and advice. Blessings to you!
The Story of PERSUASION
by Alton Gansky There’s an old joke: “There are three kinds of people in the world—those who can count and those who can’t.” There are two types of writers: those who make things happen and those that hope things will happen. When I first made writing a priority—moving from the realm of dreams...
Intriguing idea, Al. No doubt, many newer writers are considering the self-publishing route. Plus, authors of out-of-print books from traditional publishing houses can give their past works new life through self-pubbing. I'm guessing your proposal will appeal to many who are interested, yet confused about the whole process.
Blessings to you!
Something New for BR2015
We've been hard at work selecting faculty and balancing curriculum for Blue Ridge 2015. One thing Edie Melson and I talk about frequently is what topics will most benefit our conferees. It seems to change a little ever year and staying current in a business that seems to change daily is a ch...
I especially appreciate Point #9: "You really don’t have to fear them, or act like you’re meeting the Royal Family."
Some writers seem to think their whole writing career hinges on one 15-minute chat. Yes, that would be pretty stressful, if it were true. I know many writer friends who received "No thanks" from an agent or editor, only to get a "Yes" later, sometimes from the same person.
As always, good stuff, Chip!
Ask the Agent: How do I prepare to meet an agent at a conference?
© Paylessimages - Fotolia Written by Chip MacGregor First published on September 22, 2014 Macgregor Literary blog site. In a few days I’m going to be off to the ACFW conference in St Louis, where I’ll be spending two days listening to authors pitch their ideas. ACFW is a wonderful conference...
Oh, Edie, you are so on target. Your post reminds me of Longfellow, who expressed it far better than I can:
"The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night."
Taken from "The Ladder of St. Augustine"
Yes, Writing Is Hard
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson True confession time. Writing is both the thing I love best and the thing I hate most. When the words flow, it’s heaven on earth. When they stutter to a halt, the opposite is true. And the truth is, both of these circumstances are a regular part of the write...
It seems the one thing about publishing that never changes is that publishing is always changing.
Very likely more changes that no one has yet foreseen are also tip-toeing nearer. Only time will tell what those might be!
Do You Know the Definition of a Publisher?
by Alton Gansky Seems an easy question to answer. One dictionary defines it this way: pub-lish-er, noun, a person or company that prepares and issues books, journals, music, or other works for sale. Simple. Straightforward. So what’s there to talk about? Well, things have changed. Publishers ...
Excellent suggestions, Edie! Although some people have assumed that I have huge blocks of spare time for writing, the truth is that most of my published works were created in bits & pieces of time here and there in my day. However, in my case I can know in advance that I must always write junk, and later I can revise it into good stuff. :)
Blessings to you!
Learning to Write in the Bits & Pieces of Time Available
by Edie Melson I had always believed that I needed at least an hour, and preferably three, to make any progress at all with my writing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In the past year, I’ve learned how to use the time I have, even if it’s just fifteen minutes. Today I want to share wit...
Fun post, Tom. Thanks for sharing this glimpse of your journey and for encouraging others to continue placing one foot in front of the other on their own pathway!
Do These Words Make My Brain Look Big?
By Tom Threadgill “His childhood was remarkably unremarkable.” That’s a line from my first attempt at writing a novel. I’ll never forget it. I can remember looking at that sentence and thinking how powerful it was. How I’d managed to manipulate words in such a fashion that the reader would h...
Nothing like living in a simpler culture to help me see that I really don't need to buy all the stuff offered in stores & online.
I liked the shots of downtown. So glad you didn't get lost in the big city!
Belize...Part 2
After spending four days in the jungle, I was ready for relaxation at the final destination of this vacation - the beach! I woke up, flung my damp clothes into my damp suitcase, and yanked my frizzy hair back into yet another ponytail. I realized I hadn't yet walked the medicinal trail on the ...
Interesting stuff. Although I already have an agent, it's always worthwhile to listen to people who have been in the industry as long as Chip. Thank you both for this interview.
Writer's Talk #53: Chip MacGregor, literary agent
by Alton Gansky This week I visit with literary agent, Chip MacGregor. In the world of Christian publishing, Chip is a well-known name. He is the founder and president of MacGregor Literary, Inc., one of the largest agencies specializing in Christian publishing. Chip also represents authors w...
What a fun trip! Thanks for sharing. Had no idea you were going there.
Belize...Part 1
We just got back from a week long vacation in Belize. This is my fifth trip (Ryans sixth) with his company. It's always fun to get back together with the doctors and spouses - to catch up and bond doing adventures we probably would never do on our own. On our first leg of the trip we bedded ...
Over the years I've sold quite a few short stories, far more than my two published novels to date. You're correct that short fiction is whole other creature. My phrase is, "Short stories are the SWAT teams of fiction: You go in, do the job, then extract quickly." No leisurely character development. No unnecessary description.
Cut and Compress
by Alton Gansky A few months ago, I was contacted by someone who wanted to post one of my Al’s Axioms on their website. “Al’s Axioms?” you say. Over the years I’ve reduced what little wisdom I have into simple statements—like a proverb. For example: “No one ever hit a home run from the dugout...
I loved this. And we probably should have done this when our kids were little. For most of the history of the world, there was no such thing as TV. Suddenly people think you're odd if you don't have one. We own one, but downright little interests me on regular broadcasts.
As I looked at your games, I thought, "She's Got A Ticket to Ride. And she cares!" ;)
Things we do...
We have been without TV for over two years now. It is by far one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family. That being said, yes, we actually do have a TV unit. It has been moved up to an upstairs room where the kids can play Wii or watch a DVD (we aren't completely unplugged). ...
Oh no! This just reminded me that Pam and I were planning to come over last week and then not take off our snowy boots on your clean floor! We missed our chance. :(
Ha! ;)
Coming out of hibernation...
If you haven't heard, Indiana had a large snowstorm a little over a week ago with some very frigid temperatures. So cold, in fact, that I hadn't ventured out of the house for 6 days. Not even to the mailbox. While my nature is to be constantly on the move, I soon found myself settling into t...
Glad to see this. I finally made it into one of the conference photos! :)
It is our goal to be as helpful as possible to our...
It is our goal to be as helpful as possible to our conferees. This means extending scholarships when we can. Scholarships are awarded on need and/or merit. Selections are made by the directors. Since we are dependent on the generosity of others, we are unable to anticipate the number of schola...
So on target, Edie! Your last point is the main reason I don't like anyone to see my rough draft. I already it's trash when the words first hit the screen. I don't need someone reading over my shoulder and gently telling me it's not my normal quality of work. Allowing myself the liberty to fill the page with trash helps to grease the wheels of productivity. It also encourages me to come back and revise soon, before anyone sees it. :)
Quit Procrastinating—Instead Sit in the Chair and WRITE—8 Tips to Keep You Moving
I love writing and I love talking about writing. Sitting around with other writers, discussing all things literary is one of my favorite things. It’s one of the reasons I love attending writing conferences. But there are people we know who like talking about writing so much that’s all th...
Thought of this stanza when I read your post:
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things....
We have a mountain of snow by our driveway, but so far, no snow cave. The shoveler is a little tired out. :)
Let it snow!
I have to say that I love snow. I love the way it swirls about and covers the trees. I love how it buries objects leaving snow mounds in a multitude of designs to be unearthed at the next rise in temperature. It's a constant reminder to me of the power and beauty of God's world. We've been s...
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