Muriel’s older sister Cathy has gone to a party with plans to elope from there. But their mother is dying and wants to talk to Cathy. What is there to do but find her and bring her back – even against her will. How do you suppose Ruthe handled that? Find out by reading Ruthe’s Secret Roses. Available in e-Book edition Softcover edition.
As a writer we need to decide before we write, whom we are going to address The very same message we want to convey will change in slant once we know to which reader we are writing.
Are you a writer too? Then you will know this dilemma as well. So often before I write a letter or article or a web page, I must stop to ask myself, to whom am I writing this? There are a variety of answers, and each one indicates a different style of writing. What I say and how I say it all depends on who my reader will be.
Should we have a writing style ready to use for these other types of readers? Do you have several styles or slants ready for different readers?
The Antagonistic Reader
If that reader will be someone who thinks I’m wasting my time and won’t amount to anything, I’m much more careful not to reveal too much so that person will not have ammunition with which to throw mud at me. I may, if the situation allows for more than a cursory greeting, slip into a defensive mode. A subtle desire to prove that I am, after all, worthy and doing respectable things, just seems to ooze forward.
(Do you suppose I should think this through and plan a more objective approach?)
Oh dear, what shall we write to those who are closed off and critical? How about as little as possible? Let’s only say or write things to give such readers a gentle healing touch, and wait for them to come around, rather than to pick a fight.
The Critical Reader
If that reader is like a critical in-law who can see dozens of ways I should improve, I can close myself off, and focus only on the negative other person I am communicating with. Hopefully, she will begin to think I am the most wonderful listener she’s met.
A fantasy? Not for the right motivation? But I confess, that’s my way of putting up a shield around myself. I’ll admit, this is area I need to work on.
There are times we need to be on the defensive, but that doesn’t have to be from a cowering stance. Sometimes we do need to lay out the reasons for something and quash any resistance and negative intervention with a clear presentation of our view of the facts. The advantage of writing to such readers, rather than speaking, is that we can work over our written article or piece to make sure it presents our facts in a fair and strong way without picking an unnecessary fight.
The Amused Reader
If that reader is like Clarence, a man in Ontario, who was amused at me – (my talking so fast and nimbly tickled him so that he hardly heard what I was saying), then it is harder to say much of anything that is serious. I don’t normally think of myself as having a huge sense of humour, but I can become playful in what I say or write, when I know people are in such a frame of mind. If they get me in a giddy mood I can be quite witty. For a short spell.
Tell me, do people who think you are cute or funny, bring out some humour in you? Do the things you say get little laughter curlicues on them?
Again, I sense I have room for development in this area.
We better get some humorous stuff ready for those that are easily amused. I confess I have nothing stashed away for this kind of reader. I must make an effort to get some lightness worked into my articles and writing style. I like to avoid offensive, sarcastic humour, but I will make an effort to get more playful and light in my writing. I think everyone would appreciate that, don’t you?
The Adoring Fan Reader
Ah, but if that reader is one who adores my writing, likes me, and wants to know every detail about me – oh, what a difference! Suddenly I can tell all kinds of things about myself and I see myself in a different light. My self-confidence shoots up and I grow more and more talkative as they give me feedback. My writing flows.
What exactly should we be saying to those who adore us? We don’t like to hear or read others brag on themselves, so what’s a more proper response? Maybe we could give them a brief summary of our life or profile to satisfy their initial curiosity, but then, since most people like to talk about themselves, we can turn the table and begin to ask them questions about themselves. Just think, they will love us even more for that! And – we might get good fodder for our next story or article.
The Sympathetic, Understanding Reader
If that reader will be another Christian who understands my impulses and ways of seeing things, my writing will be much more natural and open-hearted, with thoughts and ideas flowing freely without a need to screen much of anything. It is easy to give them credit for understanding my viewpoints and topics.
Think about it. You probably do the same thing in your contacts with people, even if you haven’t stepped back to analyze it, right? If you smile at strangers they usually smile back – have you noticed?
My favourite reader then, is this last one, and generally when I’m not exactly sure who my readers will be, as in my RoseBouquet, I like to give them the benefit of the doubt and treat them like the open-minded Christian sister or brother until they prove otherwise. Therefore, my usual writing style is friendly and chatty. That makes for a good article or story pattern, to my great satisfaction.
Does that help you with your writing slant? Do you have a uniquely different approach for another reason or type of reader altogether? I’d love to hear about it.
Yesterday, while eating supper I glanced up at the ceiling in the office/living room, and – what’s that? The seam which had allowed leaking in the rain last year has lengthened and become more pronounced. The edges of those big 4x 8′ sheets of drywall appear to be sagging downward. I’ve been putting off fixing that since the new roof was put on, simply because I wasn’t quite sure how I was to go about fixing it, but this looks urgent. What if those drywall panels suddenly come down on everything?
As soon as I’d eaten, I brought up a ladder from the basement, and a hammer and some nails. For the life of me I could not hammer any nails in, and only got showers of plaster dust in my face and one eye in particular. I stopped to go wash it, and decided to try a screw or two instead. I found two screws (need to go buy more), and I managed to put them in, but it was hard work, turning and turning the screw driver above my head.
After that I set aside the ladder and tools, but did not take them downstairs. I swept up the debris on the floor, and I’m resolved to start hinting to certain strong men that I need a bit of help with this.
I’ve got some pie shells in the freezer; maybe I can reward them with a pie. Do you think that would do it? 
Anyway, I hope my two screws will hold for now, as tonight we have a WTM Board meeting, and I’m expecting to be busy for most of this week. They may have to hold things until Saturday. I was away all day this last Saturday but the one coming up should be a domestic day again at home.
I am STILL spending all my free time on my friend’s computer. On Saturday and Sunday I got the modem to work, but her email would not connect. I set up one of my own addresses there, and it worked fine. So yesterday I called her to find out if her username and password had been changed. Sure enough they had. So yesterday right after the ceiling matter, I changed those details on her computer, but now the modem won’t connect. (sigh!) Nor did the new username and password apply there.
I am so weary of these troubleshooting problems, even though it is adding to my learning curve. This has been going on for weeks! I love my friend dearly and want to do this for her, but it should not have to be taking me in circles like this. I’ve brought her computer to the office again this morning, and though I have other things pressing, I’m hoping to try something else this afternoon.
If you are one of my praying friends, may I ask you to join me in requesting just the right insights and knowledge and timing to get this up and running as it should? The sooner the better!
By the way, do you notice when I make goofs on the dates in the Ezine Edition of the RoseBouquet? I saw this morning that last week I had forgotten to change the date. I believe that has happened a couple of other times. I’m sorry. You have my permission to bring it to my attention when you see it.
Let’s see – for prizes now,…? Hey, why don’t I send you a recipe if you catch and report a date goof to me?
As I was brainstorming for article ideas yesterday, I decided that I ought to do a series to introduce Ruthe, the heroine of my novel to you. I’m going to give it another lick and polish and I believe I’ll have the first one ready for you with this issue. Since intimacy with God, in walking, talking kind of relationship as we sing about in the old song, In the Garden, is very important to me, it is also the foremost character trait of my heroine. If you’d like more of such intimacy, you’ll want to watch her life in the book.
Wish you could have a heart-to-heart talk with God?
Ruthe does. All the time, where ever she goes, she’s having a running conversation with the one she calls Lord, or my Best Friend. You’ve got to meet Ruthe! AND her Secret Roses.
Wish you could have a heart-to-heart talk with God?
Ruthe does. All the time, where ever she goes, she’s having a running conversation with the one she calls Lord, or my Best Friend. You’ve got to meet Ruthe! AND her Secret Roses.
There are a number of sides to the heroine, Ruthe Veer, but I think the most prominent and the key one to the whole plot, is her intimacy with God. That’s right, to put it bluntly, this is a high school grad who has already formed a habit of having running conversations with God about anything and everything in her daily life.
She has a passion to share this precious intimate friendship with others, and help them to get a similar relationship with the Lord themselves. It is this that gets her into some unusual adventures, and that determines how she will get through them.
Ruthe is modelled very much on the idealist girl I was in high school, and just after that, when I started working in the city as a telephone operator. I will try to set aside the fact that I feel like I’m sharing very private secrets. I was hoping the book would introduce this concept to readers. sort of like a puppeteer hiding behind a screen and letting the puppet do the talking for the puppeteer.
In the opening scene Ruthe receives a phone call, asking her to rush to the deathbed of her new friend’s mother. She dashes off without explaining to her family. On the way Ruthe recalls how she meet that new friend Muriel just weeks earlier.
QUOTE:
“I’ve never been at a deathbed before,” Ruthe worried. “I was not really at Grandpa’s last year. Not right when he died. What will the rest of the O’Briens think, me barging in like this?”
Swiftly her thoughts went into a soundless but high-charged dialogue with God, a habit developed in her lonely preteen years. What will I do, Lord? I’m only that mousy bookworm who reads too much and is scared of strangers. Just look at what I’ve got myself into now!
END OF QUOTE.
Ruthe had been driving up and down some seedy streets of the city, after a shift as a telephone operator. Her bleeding heart was aching for all the hurting people in that unattractive part of the city, and she was sure someone was in great need of her Best Friend and the kind of relationship she had with Him. But she had to overcome her timidity and country ignorance.
QUOTE:
“Dear God!” she moaned now, as she brushed her damp hands on the pink lace and gripped the wheel tighter, unaware that her foot pressed down as she thought of Muriel and her mother, waiting. You did a miraculous thing the night You directed me to Muriel. You even put words in my mouth. Do it again! Please Lord! I cannot turn around now! Ple-as-e. I’ve promised.
Oh-h Lord! another part of her whimpered, I’m sorry, but, unless You give me the courage, I can’t do it! Should I really go in there?
“Ach-h, you silly country bumpkin,” her fears taunted her again, “Drive yourself to Emergency. There’s St. Paul’s hospital just up the street.”
“Will you shut up!” Ruthe cried out. “The Lord God Almighty is with me. If He wants me to go in there He’ll give me the courage.”
END OF QUOTE.
Finally, Ruthe does have the courage to go into the disco-house, and immediately she is presented with a girl that needs to be rescued out of there.
To read the read of this article go to How to Be Intimate with God
This morning the snow still had a sharp crunch-crunch-crunch sound under my boots as I walked to the office. But the temperatures are letting up! By late this afternoon they are to reach 0 (our freezing point on Celsius) and even +1. That means when I’m walking home at 5 pm, the snow will sound differently. Softer, more like plodding through cold, congealed porridge.
It doesn’t mean that spring is here yet. Everyone is reminding each other that we could still have another snow storm or cold snap, but after three months of bitter cold temperatures, we are all cheering up at the coming of these milder temperatures, even if they only last a few days at a time.
Usually the temperatures fluctuate about ten degrees from night to day, so over-night we will have freezing temperatures again, and then something in that 0 range in the afternoons.
As I’ve said before, I don’t normally spend a lot of time talking about the weather – I take it as it comes, – but today it is definitely on my mind.
By the way, on Saturday afternoon I laid another 40 big tiles. The south side of the basement room is done, and I’m coming along the west side. But this coming weekend I expect to be away at the MHSS weekend (half an hour’s drive out of the city), so I won’t get any work done until next weekend. Still, if I can get some paneling and manage to put that up myself, I’m beginning to hope I’ll my basement all fixed up nice by about Easter.
Remember, little by little you can get any big job done!
I’m not sure how much you already know about setting up a web business with the affiliate model. That’s where I was at last week and I made what to me is an encouraging discovery. I was looking for suitable affiliate links to add to my aloe-vera-and-handy-herbs.com site. Then it occurred to me that I like to order my health supplements from Puritan’s Pride and voila, they have an affiliate program!
Researching that, I learning that they work through LinkShare. I had not really explored that program before. Also through a couple of other programs that allow you to create mini-one-page stores of the products of your affiliate programs. Ah-ha! I can see real potential here! I now look forward to setting this up on all my other sites. Somehow my mornings just don’t seem long enough to do all of this as fast as I’d like. Never mind, get each of the sites updated first.
Wow, if you could just see the potential!
By the way, last summer a friend gave me a site I had built up for her. On Saturday night I finally got around to doing the links over on it, so that it is really mine. Well most of the pages. It’s a site about recipes and old cookbooks, and I still have some of the cookbook pages to update. Hopefully I can give you a link to go visit it next week. That site will lend itself very well to being an affiliate site too, and (sigh) when I get that up to speed, it could even be a source of income.’
So, like with that tiling of my basement floor, I plug away at my goals, creeping forward toward them little by little. In due time I may have no less that five sites or more up, and bringing me a passive income from my affiliate links.
Only sometimes God interrupts my pace to bring me a here-and-now, paying tutoring client, so that my immediate needs can be met. Sweet, eh?
Incidentally, so far no short story entries. Can’t understand that, when I’m having fun writing stories and articles. That’s the first thing I do when I get to the office here each morning.
Today’s article came out of an entry in an old prayer journal, where I was praying for a friend who had some bad friendship habits. While trying to help her I discovered I needed the same help myself. I’ve written this up as a letter to a friend. Maybe you can identify?
This one is okay to gossip to everyone you know! There’s a place where you can buy a recipe book with 100 Chocolate recipes for $3, and if you sign up to gossip this to others, you could earn $700 fairly easily. Go to see how it works!
Dear Ellen,*
As our friendship has started to grow, you may have noticed that I have some bad friendship habits. The more I have prayed about this the more I have felt convicted that I must make some changes. By myself that just doesn’t seem to happen. I’m wondering if we could make a pact to help each other in certain areas? Perhaps if we get them polished in our friendship, we can start to teach others the positive, better side of each coin.
Now I’ve got you puzzled, right? Let me back up and explain.
We are both talkative. We have a lot to say. Unfortunately, sometimes I get too talkative – I say things I ought to leave unsaid. Or unwritten, in the case of emails.
Like what? Well, I’ve been confiding things to you that others have shared with me, which is really their information, and it is none of my business to repeat it. Even if it’s juicy, and I know you’d be impressed. Sometimes I tell you everything I’m thinking, or “under my shirt” as my Gra’ma used to say. In some matters that’s okay, but sometimes I violate my own privacy, and I fear that often I violate the privacy of others too. Okay, let me confess it, there is a danger that those confidences might be shared with others, and that’s scary.
So, Ellen, I’ve been praying about this, and God has been stopping me in my tracts with some verses I found in Proverbs that talk about discretion. God has given me enough sense to recognize that I need to discipline my talkativeness and learn instead a skill in being discrete.
What does that mean? Well, I’m learning that to be discrete, or have the gift of discretion, means to be wise and discerning as to what is good and proper to say, and to leave unsaid the things that ought not to be said – or written.
This is where I see a huge learning curve for me ahead. My family has always been the kind to be frank and direct.. Maybe, because I was very shy as a child, I’ve never had the nerve to be that blunt, but it also means I have no example to copy. Instead, I’ve been very frank and direct to individual friends, and dumped a lot of my thoughts on them. It’s also rather embarrassing to think of standing up in church and asking everyone to pray about this.
Do you think it’s copping out to ask just one friend to help me conquer my bad habit and learn a new discernment skill?
Naturally, Ellen, I’m not asking you to perform a miracle in my life. That’s what our Best Friend Jesus does. Rather, if you would pray for me (and I’ll pray for you of course!), and if you’d help me brainstorm for ways to learn this, and if you’d give me a nudge – really tactful and kind, please – when I slip up. I’m hoping that will embarrass me into changing faster. You know how we’ve both said we hate for someone to scold us. Well, a subtle hint from a friend like you might be just the smidgen of scolding to cure me!
Now, if you are willing to help me, we can brainstorm for more practical ideas, but let me share some of the topics or areas where I need to be on guard.
Instead of worrying I should be trusting God. Sometimes I go on and on about something that bothers me. You can tell when I’m going in circles, I’m sure. So how about suggesting we pray together about it? We’ll ask Him to help solve that problem and then not talk about it for the rest of our time together.
Running down my parents. I think you’ve picked up that I do love them, but some things bother me about them, and I know I should not ruin their reputation by spreading those ‘incidents.’ I guess it’s just a cry for pity. So if you said, “But you love them because….?” I’d have to stop and say something good about them. That might help.
In fact, maybe we should include my siblings and other friends.
I’ve heard — (oops) someone – say that trying to say only positive things about everybody is foolish and becomes a childish game. Well, I’m not likely to turn that positive, but I sure need to be far more positive than I am most of the time. Please, Ellen, if you’ll try doing this too, we’ll both benefit with a better attitude and have less things to apologize for later.
I better sign off….
P.S. Oh wow! Thanks for phoning! I couldn’t resist sharing all this with you and I was so glad that you are willing to help, and hey, YOU want my help too? This is going to be great! We are both going to grow spiritually as a result of this, and be so-o-o much happier! Thank you, Ellen!
Thank You, Jesus!
(* not real name)