Lee Roddy’s Blog

Two topics: First, I am surprised at how many teenagers are writing novels or seeking someone like me to critique their work and recommend a publisher. Next, for those of you who have written asking when my new book on writing novels will be available, I have the date. Here’s the link which I urge you to check out:

www.writingeducatorssymposium.com

I get so many requests to critique writers’ works (adult and juvenile) that my very heavy work schedule makes it impossible to personally help individuals. But lately, I’ve had occasion to review some teenagers’ opening pages which made my heart ache. I remember how I hurt when I was that age and longed for someone who could tell me what was wrong with my stories, but no one could.

I had a few short stories published when I was 14, but it was many years later that I sold my first of 50-plus novels. As a teen, no one could tell me how critical the first page was until an editor put is bluntly:” You don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it’s bad”.

No one told me that all stories (from the Bible to classics comic books) have the same basics. I can now summarize those in a few key words. Those will be in my new nonfiction book renamed A Guide to Writing Your Novel.

It will be introduced July 26-29 at the Writing Educators Symposium at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The publisher is the Institute for Excellence in Writing, which published my How to Write a Story a few years ago. It is still helping aspiring story writers.

At WES, I will conduct two lengthy workshops for writing educators (home school, public, parents, etc) on teaching young people how to write a real story. I will also meet one-on-one with those interested .Several other highly qualified presenters will cover other aspects of excellence in writing.

WES is highly recommended. I hope to see you there.

I want to thank all of you who wrote in saying you were praying for me as I finished my latest book due April 15th. Working title: The Novel Writers Guide to Success. I worked some seven day weeks, usually with Cicely’s help, but made the deadline except for some wrap-up items.  So I an very grateful for all your support.

Since you had a part in this book, you should be among the first to know a little more about it. Andrew Pudewa, publisher of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and I agreed we wanted something to help younger and aspiring writers get started in the right writing direction.

Example: I received emails from teens (mostly girls) who had written their first “novel”: and hoped I would take a a look at it. It hurt me when I saw the same mistakes I made as a teenager writing my own stories. Of course, back then,  I didn’t know what was wrong because I had no instruction. Like most of those who wrote me in recent years, the only training they had was what I had as a boy: reading stories in books and magazines.

I (we) thought “I can write a better story than that.”

Wrong!  I’ve read a lot of these manuscripts in which the young persons felt pride. To avoid hurting their feelings, tactfully (I hope) I made a few suggestions, always ending by urging them to attend writers’ conferences. There more experienced writers, editors and sometimes agents would read their material and show novices the powerful but invisible elements often missing in their work.

Unfortunately, often my attempts to help caused the writers to make some changes and re-submit the material without invitation. Most people have no idea how very time consuming writing is for someone who makes a living at it. Frankly, it is very hard work and chews up more time than any job I’ve ever held. I think you have to love writing to stick with to success. I had to quit trying to help others that way because there were too many common errors in their work that made it fall short of being publishable. Most needed to study the composition of a salable  novel before trying to write one. Even then, if they didn’t understand why it was so, it still didn’t work.

It’s a little like thinking you can build a garage or make a cake because you’ve seen garages or eaten cakes. There are  countless invisible details in building a garage, making a cake, writing a story. or doing anything that requires tremendous attention to detail.

This new book (due out in July) is unlike any on the market that I know about. It not only teaches how write any novel, but gives specific direction in creating differences among the various categories, as romance, mystery, suspense, juveniles and others. More details n my next blog.

I”m stealing a few minutes from my April 15th deadline when the manuscript for my latest book is due at the publishers.

The working title is The Novel Writer’s Guide to Success. It will be from Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing  IEW is well known and respected in the many mrkets, including home  schools.  It is the same  publishing house that released my How to Write a Story a few yers ago.

I will help introduce ihis next book at a Writing Educators Symposium in Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina,  the last week of July.

  The new book is a  practical teaching tool written for teenagers and older aspiring writers who want to write a novel but don’t know how. It’s based on my having written and sold more than 50 novels (adult and juvenile) and from teaching at writing seminars all acorss the country for about 30 years.

 Ther is nothing like it on the market. True, there are many books available  on trhe subject, but none with the unique, proven  instruction that is in this book.

I want readers of my blog to have a “heads up” about this book, which is now calling me to put the finishing touches on the manuscript so it can be electronically submitted 4-15-10. I’ll let you know more later.

I have been debating about whether to continue this blog. It’s a time issue. When most people our ages are retired, my multi-tasking wife, Cicely and I, are still working hard. I’m writing a book. Cicely says that she can’t retire until I do, and as long as God gives me health and my books have a market, I expect to keep writing.

The independent survey company that regularly reports on the effectiveness of my website recently disclosed that my name and this blog receive the most visits. Hundreds of people log on each week, including many from 25 foreign coutnries. This provides me with a world-wide forum. That  also gives me an opportunity to practice the old saying, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Let my candle touch yours by giving you an opportunity to share your thoughts with this amazing audience.

I offer you a distinct voice, useful information. and open line of communication. The voice will be from a born-again Christian who teaches by writing and reading; espcially for young readers. I provide useful information about writing based on years of  having taught it across the USA to all kinds of audiences. I have books out on the subject with a new one due out this July. I open communications by inviting you to use this forum.

Here are some guidelines:

1. I always want to hear from you, especially about reading or writing for youngsters, but please be pithy.

2. I will publish those comments or questons which I deem will interest readers of this blog.

3. By submitting your thoughts, you agree that you consent for me to publish all or part of what you write.If you don’t agree, add a  note saying that it’s not for publication.

4. As a former newspaper editor, I reserve the right to edit communications without c hanging your point.

5. Tell me what you’d like to learn about in furure blogs.

6. A very heavy schedule prevents me from reading manuscripts, so please don’t  ask.

Okay, let’s give this a trial run. What’s on your mind?

I continue to be amazed at the number of people from at least 25 foriegn countries who log onto my blog. I’m dellighted to hear from some of them, such as the following letter from a woman in Germany.

She read the German translation of my “An American Adventure” series when she 10 or 11 years old. Her first letter to my website said she had vainly looked for 10 years or so  to find the books so she could re-read  them.  I hope you enjoy reading her second  letter, both of which she wrote in English.

Dear Mr. Roddy:

Thanks a lot for your reply, which made me very happy. It’s a great feeling to know that someone who wrote a story that  meant a lot of me in one time of your life actually takes notice of your existing.

What you said about books influencing lives is true, and it shows in this case, too. How many books have we read which just passed by and we never remember them any more?

And then are books  – like the ones you wrote - which I remember fondly years later, despite the fact I never owned them myself and thus didn’t just see them by chance in the shelf to remember. (That was also my main problem about finding them again.)

I didn’t remember your name, and most the character’s names are spelled differently in the German verrsion, or renamed.

I remember them because they drew me in when I read them. These are the books that truly mean something to me.

Yes, I am writing, fiction,  too, and I hope to be able to publish something sooner  or later. For now,  I’m writing  for the story, for the  pleasure of writing and for the experience  of exploring the world of the story and the  characters that live inside them.

And I sure do hope that maybe one time, the things I wrote draw someone into  the story and the characters that live inside them. 

Also, I’m very glad to say that I found a copy of “Overland Escape,” (translated backfrom German , the title would be “Two Escaping”) on Ebay  from a seller who would also ship them overseas. I’m looking forward to receiving the book and rereading it, and meeting  the old characters again- and in English this time.

Yes, of course you may put my email on your blog. Than ks a lot for your email. It truly brightened my day.

Charlotte Engels

This entry malfunctioned during posting, so I have to rewrite it. I’d appreciate your paience while that’s done.

Here’s a email that sprinkled sunshine and roses on my day:

Dear Lee:

I can still remember the first day I picked up your book, “Cry of Courage,”  in the “Between Two Flags” series. I was eleven and it was the first deries I truly ever got into. It was that book which first started me on a life of writing (the main character wrote and for some reason it finally clicked that I wanted to as well) and sparked a passion for reading.

I am not quite sure why it was that particular book that did so, but it did. I can still remember begging my mom to take me to the Christian book store so I could see if a new book had come out. Every year I waited to see what happened to Emily, Gideon and Nat. Even when I had outgrown the series I still looked forward to reading them and searched them out.

When I finished reading the last book, “Risking the Dream,” I contined to look for more books (feeling as if the book left me hanging), but it never came. For years it it has plagued me, wondering what happened.

I have graduated college with a bachelors in English and am studying to be a children’s libarian. I have literally read countless books (childern’s books being my forte,), but even with that, I still want to know what happened at the end of that beloved series that started so much for me.

I know I sound crazy, but it is something that has nagged at me every  time I think of those books. I have never had this problem before, and I do so much respect you and your writing. I suppose I am writing you this on the slim hope that perhaps you had intended to write more and because of the popularity of the books or perhaps some other project took presidence  -  you never returned to finish.

Whatever the case, would you please email me some closure, if you could. If not, I  understand, you are very busy man, and I do not wish to inconvenience you; but if you could, I think it could give my mind some relief.

I am so sorry this comment was very long, but I thoughI would thank ou for the series as is, and hope for some closure. Thank you for your time and the Lord bless you.

Melody Williams

* * *

Melody, and all of you who have written to say pretty much the same thing  about wanting to complete the series, book, here’s the explanation; I originally proposed this as a ten book series,  the publisher only wanted six. Then they sold out to a house that only does nonfiction. About five years ago I resold the reprint rigthts to another house on a contract which covered 40 of my award-winning juvenile series. I have been unable to get them to reprint the six original flag under contract. The house did’nt want 10 books, so I condensed my planned four remaining books into one wrap-up. I completely outlined it, showing what happens to each of the principal characters through the end of the war and in later life. But so far, no sale. It’s a moving story, even if I do say so myself, but nothing has happened, saleswise. However, your letter about “that beloved series” has prompted me to consider some options which give me hope. I’ll let you know how those develop.

Dear Lee:

I can still rememer the first day I picked up your book, “{Cry of Courage,” in the “BetweenTwo Flags” series. I was elevent and it was the firt series I truly very go into.

It was that book which first sarted me on a life ofwiting (the main characte wrote and for some reason, it really clicked that I want too as well) and sparked a

Dec.. 27, 2009

I don’t make New Year Resolutions, but annually I do try  to visualize what lies ahead and strive to achieve what I think I should. I invite you to  share your thoughts on this topic.

In a way, this blog is is a bully pulpit because it gets  hundreds of visits from the United States and many foreign countries. A posting here is a way to reach far beyond what most of us ordinary people could do in the past. Naturally, I favor comments that help other visitors have a better life because of something you and I might write.

For decades, in my teaching aspiring writers how to break into print, I urged them to follow an acrostic I created: OPNAD, which means Other People’s Needs and Desires. My goal for this blog in the months ahead is to try finding ways to help and encourage visitors to find answers to questions that threaten their tomorrows.

People are looking for answers in many places. Some find answers in church, but many of them have low attendance. That  indicates the absentees are searching elsewhere. Drug use is so rampant that many users vainly seek escape from reality there, but the end price is very high.

Still others search in many places, but often the answer doesn’t reside in places or things, but inside a person’s own heart and mind. It seems many people are unable to accept and act on that truth. They need help, encouragement and to be lifted up, if only by words.

 I am blessed to be a happy, fulfilled man with a wonderful family and friends. But I have had my share of wilderness experiences, so I have known pain and hard times. How about you?

I’d like to know what you plan to do differently next year than you did  this.  If this blog can be helpful in that way, it will focus on that.  After all, what good is a bully pulpit if it’s not used? 

Are you finding the suppport and encouragement needed in your life? If not, what are you going to do about changing that so you have what’s now missing?  I invite you to share how you found fulfillment in your life. Conversely,  if you are not there yet, what do you think it will take to get you there?

I’ve been blessed by seeing many Christmases and I hope to see many more. They  help me to remember that, in spite of the overwhelming emphaisis on gifts and commercialism, it’’s really about the birth of the Christ child.

This morning, as I have done for 40 or more years, I  prepared to re-read the accounts of this world-touching event recorded in  the books of  Matthew and Luke. In the next several days, I will daily read re-read  both accounts from start to finish. I invite you to join me in reading some of the stirring words available to us.

In my newspaper days, every year I tried to practice the old saying, “It is  better to light one  candle than to curse the darkness.” I did that to refresh the minds of readers who do not normally open a Bible, were  too busy, or have other reasons why they did not  take time to recall this part of their heritage.

As a person who made a living many years with words, I was always honored to remind newsper readers to notice how beautifully Luke wrote this story. He was master at presenting the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child. Oh, that I could write like that!

I still choke up when I read Luke’s magnificent prose, and reflect on what it means. I welcome you in  joining  me in reading both Matthew and Luke’s  glorious  stories from now until Chrirstmas. You might want to keep reading.

Whether you read those accounts or not, my prayer for you is that you have a joyous Christmas in the true spirit of the event, and you welcome the new year in faith and hope.

I’m writing this after an inspiring trip to Washington, DC, and Gettysburg, Pennslyvania.  On 10-17-09, my wife and I celebrated our 62nd wedding anniversary with cups of airline coffee during a two-hour delay, waiting for the United Airlines flight to leave Sacramento for the Washington/Dulles Airport.

I have already blogged about what an incredible woman I married, so if you want to re–read that, it’s in the archives under Blog#2, Noble Wife.

It was our first trip to the nation’s capital and Gettysburg, but Steve, our school teacher son, had traveled to both places before, so he accompanied us and greatly enriched our experience.

 I  had long wanted to visit both  areas,  especially so now that I’m well into writing another Civil War novel.

To help add authentic details to my story, I needed to walk where my fictitious characters walked;  to mentally live as they lived, and to feel what they felt in their anguished times of bloody war that started graves in Arlington where  more than 345 thousand are now buried. I needed to sit in Ford’s Theater and hear the single shot from the box where President Lincoln was assassinated just days after the war ended.

I got that and more, along with sudden lumps in my throat and tears that seeped, unbidden, under my eye lids. I pray that the emotions I felt there can be transfered to the printed page so my readers may vicariously share what real people did in that horrble conflict between the states.

To better appreciate our American heritage, I urge everyone who has not been to Washington DC , Arlington National Cemetery and the Gettysburg Battlefield to put them on a ‘must do” wish list — and then to work hard to make it happen.