Learning to do a Book Review

Happy Monday! I'm back and ready to go. If you are new to my blog, welcome! If you are coming back for more, welcome back! I am so glad y'all came to join my Homemaker/Writer life. I started this blog almost a year ago. So much has happened since then in my personal life and my writing life.  I hope to start my quarterly newsletter next month, a year from when I started my whole "public" life, to share more of my personal journey and what's going on in my writing life. If you would like to receive my newsletter, please go over to my website, hit subscribe and when my newsletter goes up, you will be able to receive it via email.

If you have visited my website recently, then maybe you have seen that I plan to do my first Read and Review book review in February.  I am certainly not a professional book reviewer. I am not a professional editor, formatter, publisher, etc. I am only doing this for the fun of it and thought I would share the experience with you. It will be even more fun, if some of you join me. This is the book I plan to Read and Review:

You can purchase it here, if you don't have it already.

*I receive nothing whether you do or do not purchase this book. I don't personally know Becky Wade although I wouldn't mind meeting the Christy Award Book of the Year winner for 2018. 😀

As I was researching how I should go about doing a book review, I looked up book review templates. Most of what I found, though, were geared toward grade schoolers doing book reports.  I don't want to do a book report. Many of the questions seemed to be asked in order to make sure the kids actually read the books. 😄 If I dislike this book so much I don't want to read the whole thing, I'll just tell you. I don't think I will have that problem, though. There is no grade here. No teacher going to fuss at me. I don't want to give the story away either, so I will try not to give any spoilers.

What I did find useful, in my research is that three areas are usually covered in a review: content, style and merit. So, I tried to find information to help me be able to review each of those areas of the book. 

(Definitions were found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: *I included the parts of the definitions that I felt suited our purposes here.)

content: noun  con·​tent | \ ˈkän-ˌtent  \

Definition of content

1a: something contained —usually used in plural the jar's contents the drawer's contents

b: the topics or matter treated in a written worktable of contents

c: the principal substance (such as written matter, illustrations, or music) offered by a website… Internet users have evolved an ethos of free content in the Internet.— Ben Gerson

2a: SUBSTANCE, GIST

b: MEANING, SIGNIFICANCE

c: the events, physical detail, and information in a work of art— compare FORM sense 10c The film was rated R for its violent content.

3a: the matter dealt with in a field of study… the content of sociology is inexhaustible …— Franklin H. Giddings

b: a part, element, or complex of parts

4: the amount of specified material contained : PROPORTION the sulfur content in coal

This particular section seems like it may be the most challenging one in which not to give spoilers. Commenting on the content, without giving content...hmmm, I'll do my best.

style: noun \ ˈstī(-ə)l  \

Definition of style

 1: DESIGNATION, TITLE

2a: a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech)writes with more attention to style than to content the flowery style of 18th century prose

I'm not sure if this definition helps me much. According to The 6 Elements of Fiction by Ruthanne Reid:

 "Style is awesome. Style is needed. Style is the thing that makes your work stand out from everybody else’s, because in essence, it’s your “voice.”

You develop style by working on technique. Your syntax, word choices, and tone all contribute to this. Your style can demonstrate not only your voice as a writer, but is crucial to indicating details about your story and characters. Style shows accent and dialect, character intelligence and observation; it shows the underlying humor or drama of your piece. Your style is your unique flavor, and developing it will not only take your entire writing career, but is also one of the most rewarding activities as a writer." 

This is more understandable to me, but this still does not sound like it will be easy. I am gaining new respect for reviewers. Hopefully, I will get the hang of this and after I get a few book reviews under my belt, it will come more naturally to me.

merit: noun mer·​it | \ ˈmer-ət,  ˈme-rət\

Definition of merit

1a obsolete : reward or punishment due

b: the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts Opinions of his merit vary.

c: a praiseworthy quality : VIRTUE but originality, as it is one of the highest, is also one of the rarest, of merits— E. A. Poe

d: character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem also : ACHIEVEMENT composed a number of works of merit— H. E. Starr

This one seems pretty straight forward, but I think that as an amateur book reviewer, this will basically be me giving my unprofessional opinion, which is worth, well, nothing really. It still sounds fun to give it a try and I hope you will, too.

If you want to read some reviews from more experienced book reviewers, here is an article about where you can go.  

I mentioned earlier that I looked up book review templates. I didn't find what I wanted so I made my own. You are welcome to copy mine or find your own, if you are going to join me and do this book review. I would love to hear from you, if you are planning to do this with me. I would also love to read your review, so you are welcome to email your results to me at sandykayslawsonWriter@gmail.com. We start in February, so if you are going to do this with me, make sure to get your book soon. 

Book Review

Reviewer:                                                              
Date:

Title: 

Author:

Genre:

Content: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Style:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Merit:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would I seek out more of this author’s books?
Do I recommend this book?
How many stars do I give this book?   ✩✩✩✩✩

My template is basic. If you want to do one more in depth, go for it. Remember, it's just for fun, there are no real rules here. I hope to make this a regular thing. So, if you have books you feel would be good for my Read and Review (soon to be on my website), please comment below and submit your ideas. Don't forget to subscribe here and at my website. 

May God bless you and your family.

In Christ, 

Sandy

Exercise, Eat Right and be Creative

Good Monday Morning! I am ready to jump into this week with both feet and I hope you are, too.  It's here whether we are ready or not, so we might as well make the most of it. 😀

If you are anything like me, you are wanting not only to make the most of this week, but this year. Maybe you have been thinking about your health more this month. I know I have. I am not getting any younger and sorry to break it to you..., you aren't either.  I exercise, eat right...most of the time..., but I need to do more to offset the effects of old age creeping up on me. Lack of sleep, stress, and those days when I am less than careful about what I am eating, affect me more the older I get. That is why I have been studying, researching and just thinking more about how I am going to fight this battle for my health as long as I'm able.

Anyone who has thought anything about getting in better shape physically or mentally, has heard that you need to exercise, eat right, even sleep more, but did you know that being creative is also good for your health? I use to think creative people were the crafty or artistic type, which I am not, but the more I read about it, the more I am convinced being creative is so much more than that.

I believe that when we were created in the image of God, part of that image is creativity. After all, God is the Creator of all. No one holds a candle to His Creativity, but He did give all of us the ability to be creative. We just need to learn what that means for us. 

According to this article in "Forbes" magazine,

 creativity is actually a basis of human life. Of course! God's Creativity is why humans exist at all! But, here are some of the benefits to creativity they give:

1. Increases happiness

2. Reduces dementia

3. Improves mental health
4. Boosts your immune system
5. Makes you smarter

This next article gives 22 reasons, why people with creative outlets are more successful:

A few of the reasons, Michelle Millis Chappel lists are:

1. You discover and develop your unique talents.
2. You see the world through fresh eyes.
3. You learn to think on your feet.

The problem is so many people believe they aren't creative, because they think like I use to.  "I am not an artist or crafty, so I am not creative." Wrong! Even in the first article I mentioned, they begin by talking about coloring and doodling. Creativity is so much more than that, although those are creative outlets too. Some of the most creative people on the planet are children. Do what they do for a while and their creativity will amaze you. They don't need art or craft supplies to be creative either.

As I was thinking about this blog, I began to come up with some ways people are creative. Some of these may appeal to you or you may have some different ideas you could share with us. Remember, you don't have to produce professional quality. Maybe after much practice you will find you are that good, but this is not about a paycheck, it's about you enjoying your God given ability to be creative.

Writing- (of course!) Writing can take many forms, from writing a novel to writing in a journal. 

Photography-If you enjoy taking pictures, then don't wait for the next family gathering or vacation. Take pictures, share them, let others enjoy the view of the world through your camera lens.

Woodworking-Refinishing a table, to building a table; I am impressed with the work some people can do with their woodworking skills. If working with wood relaxes you and is something you find interesting, give it a try.

Whittling-Really! There are some people out there that can do some pretty amazing work with a piece of wood and a pocket knife.

Singing/Music-You don't have to have a voice like Celine Dion to enjoy singing and this area of creativity, is as easy as turning on your favorite radio station.

*This is one of my favorite Karaoke songs to sing. With YouTube, you can do Karaoke at home! My family loves doing this together. My husband also loves to buy musical instruments for our grandchildren. They have so much fun making "music" with their Papa! Maybe one day at least one of them will find that they really do love making music and have been given that particular creative gift.

Gardening/Flower Arrangement-DNA for the green thumb, did not get passed down to me. That doesn't stop me from planting a spring garden every year with my husband. We still try to keep our fruit trees productive and make plans for new things we want to plant. I think my husband's efforts are the only thing that keeps them alive, despite me. If fact the only two plants I have been able to keep alive on my own are two cactus.

They don't look like much, but I am proud of them. They have survived my feeble attempts to take care of them for many years now. I keep thinking about moving them to a larger flower pot, but I don't know if they would live through that. Maybe one day I'll try. The point of this is, even though I am not good at gardening, it brings me joy to try. It relaxes me and whenever something does succeed in growing, it is like I have received an award.

Cross-stitching, Needlework, Sewing-There was a man I once knew, that had a heart-attack. His doctor told him he should take up cross-stitching to relax him and help him deal with stress. The man ended up loving it so much, he made large, beautiful cross-stitched pictures!

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, are very talented in the woodworking and sewing areas. They started receiving so many requests for the things they make, they now have a side business selling their creations, in addition to their missionary work. You can find them @scissorsandsaw. Here is some of their work:

 

 

Arts and Crafts-If you are good at these types of creativity, then make sure you make the time for it. You have a gift, that many people can enjoy with you.

I could go on and on with ideas for ways to be creative, but many books fill libraries with creative things you can do. So, of course, I have to stop somewhere. 😄 Don't make excuses, God gave you the gift of creativity for a reason. It's a good gift, so don't waste it. "But I don't have the time!", you may say. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. I had this trouble and still do. I don't know where my time has gone, and I don't know why I couldn't accomplish even half of the things I wanted to each day. What has helped me improve (I am still a work in progress.), and it may help you, too, is to look at your 24 hours and make note of how exactly you are using them. We need to make priorities in our lives. For me, my spiritual health, physical health and mental health are all priorities for me. If that means I have to say no to something that comes further down on the list of priorities, then so be it. My writing is very important to me, but if my family needs me, then my writing has to take a back seat to them. At the same time, my writing will come first to other things that are less important to me. 

We all have to make choices with our blessing of life. Make creativity a priority. I think you will find that you enjoy the rest of your life a little more, if you do. Also, creativity doesn't necessarily have to be done solitarily, sometimes you can find others, who enjoy the same things; a spouse, your child, a friend, take a class, join a club or just enjoy the time to do something on your own. Which ever way appeals to you, make the time.  Don't forget to thank the Lord, though, for the wonderful gift of creativity. May God bless you and your family this week with many opportunities to be creative.

In Christ,

Sandy

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Resolutions vs. Goals

I know I'm a little late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Is it really the 7th already? Wow! So much has been happening in my life since I made my last blog post, but I'm going to save all my personal news for a Newsletter I'll plan to send out to all my subscribers to my new Website, hopefully by the end of this month.  Yes, you heard me right, MY NEW WEBSITE! That is certainly a goal reached in 2018. So excited about that. It is still a work in progress, but I am learning, so bear with me. If you came to my blog via my website, welcome.  I am so glad you were able to follow my links and make it.  

Now on to today's topic "Resolutions vs. Goals," I don't intend for it to sound like a competition between the two. It isn't a competition, it is just a difference, at least in my mind. Unless you have been living in seclusion or screen free the last several weeks, you have probably heard the word "resolution" many times. Usually, when I hear someone talking about a resolution, they use the word interchangeably with the word goal. I hear about how resolutions are rarely kept more than a few days or weeks into a new year. As I pondered these things, I decided to delve a little deeper into the meaning of resolution.

One of Merriam-Webster's definitions is: "The act or process of resolving." Resolving? I looked that up.  Merriam-Webster's dictionary led me to resolved. The two most applicable definitions for this I found were: "to reach a firm decision about" and "fixity of purpose".  Ok, we are getting closer to the real meaning of resolution. The words firm and fixity (a word I haven't heard before...), are not for the weak. There is no room for waffling. If you have made a resolution, a real resolution, there has to be more to it than just wanting to do something new or different. 

While I was thinking about these things, the words resolved and purpose, reminded me of my favorite book in the Bible: Daniel. Specifically, I was reminded of this verse about Daniel;

Daniel 1:8: 

English Standard Version:

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself."

King James Bible: (This is the version I grew up with.)

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

Why did Daniel resolve or purpose these things? It wasn't because he didn't want to gain weight or some other superficial reason. It was because he wanted to keep God's law regarding what he could and could not eat as an Israelite. He made that choice even though it could have gotten him killed (remember he was a slave in captivity). His beliefs about what was right and wrong, led him to make his resolution. Another example from the book of Daniel, is the story of Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego. They were also Israelites, Hebrew, slaves. The King of Babylon had pronounced that anyone who didn't fall down and worship the statue of himself, whenever a slew of musical instruments started playing, would be thrown into a "fiery furnace". This is what they said to the king, when he warned them what would happen:

Daniel 3:16-18:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

If you know the story, then you know that the king did throw them into the furnace after heating it 7 times hotter than normal, but God delivered them. They not only survived, but they didn't even smell like smoke.

My point is this, though. They resolved in their hearts that they would not worship anyone or anything other than the Lord God no matter the consequences. That is a resolution, to do or not do something based on your beliefs. That is way more serious and long lasting than saying, "I want to lose 20 pounds this month."  You may or may not say out loud something you are resolved to do, but the truth of the matter is, your beliefs determine what you do or do not do all the time. The issue is, that many people say they believe something, but their resolutions do not prove it. 

I know my focus has been on the word resolution. I don't think making goals is as serious as making resolutions, but I do think it is still important to have goals. Don't mistake wishes and dreams for goals, though. Think of goals as the legs or wheels to your wishes and dreams.  They can't go anywhere unless you give them a way to move forward. In a race, you can't just wish yourself to the prize, it takes one step at a time to make it. Figuring out those steps, comes along the way, but you need to know where to start. We don't know what is around the bend in the road, so we may only reach one little goal at a time. For each goal you meet though, you are that much closer to the finish line.

Goals 📋📆🎉

  

Some of my goals for this year are:

1. Get my first book published.

2. Finish my second book.

3. Lose weight. 

4. Walk regularly.

5. Learn how to balance the different areas of my life.

6. Organize my house.

7. Improve my website. 

8. Learn more about writing and platforms.

9. Go to ACFW

I could probably think of more, but you get the idea. If I'm not able to do all of these, it will be ok. If I can at least accomplish some things on this list, improve, do better, etc., I will consider my year a success. If I don't write these down and make a plan for each one, I will probably not make any significant progress, though. Making a plan, starting the process, learning what I need to know to do to succeed...it's a process and every step towards that goal is a step in the right direction.

Whether you are making goals or resolutions, pray about it. Seek the Lord's Will for you and I hope whatever He has in store for you this year, you will learn to trust Him, the Lord Jesus, more or maybe for the first time ever. Either way, life is sweeter when you try to live the life you were created for.

May God bless you and your family this year. I would love it if you would subscribe here and at my website.  I plan to add some new content there this week.  Today has been so busy, I have been writing this in bits and pieces, but that's just the way it goes for a Homemaker/Writer. 

In Christ,

Sandy