Category: Passion

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A Blowout!

Have you ever had a blowout? Everything seemed to be going smoothly until … oh, wait a minute. What I’m talking about is a flat tire – not an interpersonal eruption. Both can be heart-wrenching, but the tire blowout is easier to fix. Usually.

We were in the Columbus, Ohio metroplex when one of the four tires on our trailer blew out. This trailer is Carol’s and my “home-away-from-home,” and we were returning to Arkansas after one of our grandsons was married in Ohio.

There’s no need to get upset about getting a flat tire because having an emotional blowout only causes confusion and hurts relationships. But I was tired and needed a rest, so my daughters advised me to drive to the next freeway exit and into the parking lot of a Shell gas station.

After making two phone calls, they discovered that an automobile tire dealership was only a block away, and they happened to have the trailer tire we needed. Wonderful! The owner managed to squeeze us into their crowded schedule, and we were back on the road in less than three hours. I didn’t get upset, I had a good rest, and we were almost on time as we reached the Cracker Barrel restaurant where we celebrated our younger daughter’s birthday.

It’s much easier to ask for assistance in the middle of a problem than to ask to be forgiven after an emotional blowout. So, if you find yourself in what could be an emotional crisis, try to relax and ask for help. And later, you will be able to remember the situation more clearly, be able to talk about it with a clear conscience with family, and be able to write about it.

And as you write …

Write Creatively.

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More Reasons Why People Write…

Writing is tedious; it requires patience and enthusiasm. With that in mind, many writers are creative geniuses who change people’s lives. Here are some of the reasons why writers are truly inspiring.

Writing conveys emotion, intellect, and creativity. Reading a well-written novel, poem, or devotional can lift us out of the doldrums of life, lift us to a higher plane, and help us to see beyond our mental and physical boundaries.

So if you have any desire to write, if you’ve ever considered it, or if you are in the process of writing right now, think of your reader and take him or her on an enjoyable or exciting journey.

It takes a lot of enthusiasm to become a good writer. Let your readers feel that enthusiasm, and you accomplish that goal by …

Writing Creatively.

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Dreams Can, and Do, Come True

After 60 years, a childhood dream became reality! In late 2022, a man in his early 70s finally became an author, and now his second novel has been completed.

In his fourth-grade classroom, Charles Yancey’s teacher gave him a book titled Nobody Loves Me, authored in 1890 by Amy Catherine Walton, also known as Mrs. O. F. Walton. That book, placed in the hands of a child who already loved reading, sparked a genuine, decades-long interest in writing. He made up his mind that someday he’d write such a book, and his dream became reality.

In December of 2022, Yancey published Alone…Yet Not Alone, now popular with both teens and adults. The sequel to that book, Make Room for Others, Jonah, is also receiving great response. Yancey is elated at the success of his books.

Yancey was hesitant to submit the manuscript for his first novel for publication, and was further reticent to write another book. But upon receiving eager response from many readers, he complied with requests for a second novel. Will there be a third? Well, that remains to be seen.

Here are Charles Yancey’s own words. “For me, writing is a rewarding pastime. Although it’s demanding on time and effort, it can still be very satisfying. Everyone has a story. You might think no one is interested in hearing or reading yours, but that may not be true. Millions of people spend hours reading every day. People want to hear about adventures, hobbies, vocations, vacations, etc. that other folks have. It’s a way they can experience adventure and excitement that they, for many reasons, cannot encounter. And listen: the older generations have stories many young people would appreciate hearing. The key is telling them in an exciting way.

“I wish I had, in print or recording, the accounts I’ve heard from my parents, grandparents, and in-laws. But I don’t, so at least I’ll share my own stories for my family and friends. I think you should do it, also. You might be as surprised as I was at the results.

“And you might allow P&L Publishing and Literary Services to help you, as they did me. They do a great job.”

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Tip #4

What is your job, your function as a writer? Do you write poetry or prose? If you write prose, what genre do you favor If you write novels, you probably tell stories. James A. Michener was a storyteller, and he excelled at it.

Tip #4. “The job of a storyteller is to tell stories, and I have concentrated on that obligation.”

And Mr. Michener did an outstanding job! You might have noticed that his novels are long. For example, Texas has 1,474 pages, and Hawaii has 1,490 pages. But he conducted extensive research, he did his homework, and rewrote them several times with editorial assistance. The first printing of Texas was 750,000 copies.

But don’t try to copy Mr. Michener. Don’t try to write long stories. Instead write what you feel comfortable with. Be yourself, establish your voice and your style, do your homework, give yourself time to excel. But write! And you may be thrilled with the results if you …

Write Creatively.

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Why do you like to write?

What compels you to write? Is it fun? An obsession? An adventure? An escape? I asked a group of people why they wrote, and here are just a few of their responses.

Writing helps me cope with stress.

Writing allows me to go to anywhere I want to go with no restrictions.

Writing allows me to create other worlds, and kind of live in them.

Writing allows me to safely express my thoughts, worries, and anxieties.

I enjoy writing because I find fiction more interesting than the real world.

I write poetry because it helps me connect to my artistic side.

I write to give people a good story to read.

When one of the men asked me why I liked to write, I told him I write to teach about life. Among other things, that includes topics related to history, science, the Bible, humor, and philosophy.

There are hundreds of reasons people write. Why don’t you interview yourself and find out why you like to write. The answers might help you learn to improve your skill. And as you improve, always …

Write Creatively

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Valentine’s Day Special

P&L Publishing and Literary Services is offering a $100 discount as a Valentine’s Day special. If you are writing a book – or are ready to publish one – contact us on our “Get In Touch” or contact page and tell us you read this blog. You’ll be surprised at how little it costs and how quickly we can publish your book. Contact us on or before Leap Day (February 29, 2024) to receive this offer. (https://plpubandlit.org/)

And just as this critter is passing on this information, share this blog with your friends.

Write Creatively

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Learn from Others, but Be Yourself

Babies learn about speech by listening. They learn to talk by imitating. They get good at conversation by practicing. Is there a lesson here for writers? I think so.

We learn about writing by reading. We learn to write by imitating. We get good at it by practicing. Does that sound too simple? Well, if I could reduce it any further, I would.

I’ve heard it said, “Learn from the best, but don’t copy them.” I agree, but I modify it this way, Read, study other writers, and learn all you can. But when it’s your turn to publish your work, don’t copy someone else. Be yourself.

Years ago, my dad said, “My mentors at the writer’s guild told me that I have to write what people want to read. And I have to write it a certain way or I’ll never sell much. What do you think?”

I didn’t want to give advice that conflicted with his mentors because there was some truth in their statements. But they missed an important piece of the puzzle.

After a minute or so, I responded. “Dad, they have great advice if your goal is to make a paycheck. But my advice is to write your passion, about what’s in your heart and mind. But write it well! Learn from them, polish your style, but be yourself.”

How did he do? A few years later he told me that his books sold very well, and he was happy for the freedom of expression I gave him.

So, learn from the best, but don’t try to copy their style. Be yourself, and …

Write Creatively

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3 Steps to a Good Page-Turner

Yes, I know. Most of you have heard something like that many times, and I understand there are many more than 3 steps, but don’t go away. This could help burgeoning authors, and I won’t bore you veterans with unnecessary verbiage.

There is no shortcut to writing a great book. Although it takes time, it takes a lot of thinking, and it’s not easy, it is simple. In fact, this may sound too simple, and you might toss it aside. That’s okay with me, but read it first.

What do you need for the great book you want to write?

1. Enthusiasm, Passion

Simply put, you need an idea that means a lot to you. Tell a story that would keep your interest. Why? Writers tend to be more passionate about their own ideas; therefore, they can more energetically write the story. Infuse your writing with energy.

2. Exciting Characters

No one knows more about your characters than you do. Why? They are born out of your imagination. You assign to them looks, size, attitudes, strengths, flaws, skills, blemishes, character, and all the rest, so make them interesting. Make sure they fulfill their purpose for being in the book, and they dynamically drive the story in the direction you want it to go. Even if you have a dog, cat, or a chicken in the book, give it a purpose for being there.

3. Resolvable Tension

There is a need for nice, sweet stories like Pollyanna. But even in Pollyanna, there was tension. To keep readers turning those pages, there must be conflict. Let that controlled conflict empower the story throughout the book and grip the readers’ imagination.

As I mentioned, writing is not easy, but it is simple. Improve your skill, enjoy your writing, and

Write Creatively

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Energize Your Writing

Do you know that your choice of words is as important as how you use them? Also, writing a compelling sentence often has a higher priority than writing a literally correct sentence. These concepts are part of what makes the editing process so powerful, and what makes the editor so valuable. Identifying weak areas and refining/editing the work can transform a good story into a great story.

The following is an example of weak narrative.   

George looked out the window. He saw an airplane flying very low, and wondered if it would make it to the airport. 

The author should find a way to infuse life into the narrative. There are many ways that can be accomplished, and here is one idea:

George couldn’t believe what he saw. “You’ll never make it to the airport; the plane is too low! Bring it up!” George yelled at the closed window. He couldn’t hear the crash, but a massive fireball and cloud of black smoke erupted as the commercial airliner plowed into the forest at 165 mph.

Changing the sentence structure not only energized the narrative, it also added depth to the story. This kind of writing prompts readers to keep turning the pages.

Let’s not waste our time by writing boring stories for bored people. Let’s offer them a dynamic adventure by …

Writing Creatively

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Today, You Get a Short Note

If you’ve read my blogs on either web site for a while, you’ll note that not all of them are pertinent to your situation. You’ll also note that a few seem redundant, and many of them overlap.

That’s okay. Accept and learn by what applies/appeals to you, and let the rest go.

One of my newspaper column readers called the managing editor and complained, “I really do not agree with Mr. Linzey. I don’t like today’s article.”

The editor asked, “Did you like his column last week?”

“Oh, yes, I did.”

“How about the week before?”

“Yes.”

“Then, you’ll like his column next week, too. So just throw this one away.”

In like manner, you folks are encouraged to use whatever information you can and ignore the rest. And all of us will do our best to …

Write Creatively

Oh, and if you have an extra 10 minutes, you can look us up and find out more about us at https://plpubandlit.org/.