The Rural Setting Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becka Puglisi

My Review

This book was amazing! I'm telling you. For a writer, especially one who maybe hasn't been to or experienced as many things, I need books like these to help my describe to my readers what I want them to hear, touch, and emotionally feel what I'm feeling. Rural settings Thesaurus has everything you need for every setting to the dusty attic to the mountain trees. Descriptions and senses written for you to experience and to help your audience experience what your experiencing in your mind.

Rural Settings is a marvelous, well put together, tool for any and all writers!

When I heard authors Angela Ackerman & Becka Puglisi were coming out with two new Thesaurus's I quickly jumped out of my seat with a big "WOOHOO"! I never thought such books existed until one day I stumbled upon their Emotional Thesaurus which ultimately lead me to there website: Writers Helping Writers. Ladies and Gents, I seriously recommend not only checking out their website, but subscribe! This way you won't miss a thing; I know I don't!

These ladies write and put a lot of time and effort into their books and website just to help us poor unfortunate souls who've taken up the beautiful art of writing, so be sure check out their website and grab all their books!

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

Unleash the Full Power of the Setting within You Stories!

As we storytellers sit before the keyboard to craft our magic, we're usually laser-focused on the two titans of fiction: plot and character. Yet, there's a third element that impacts almost every aspect of the tale, one we really need to home in on as well: the setting.

The setting is so much more than a painted backdrop, more than a stage for our characters to tromp across during the scene. Used to its full advantage, the setting can characterize the story's cast, supply mood, steer the plot, provide challenges and conflict, trigger emotions, help us deliver those necessary snippets of backstory...and that's just scratching the surface. So the question is this: how do we unleash the full power of the setting within our stories?



Well, there's some good news on that front. Two new books have released this week that may change the description game for writers. The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces and The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Personal and Natural Spaces look at the sights, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds a character might experience within 225 different contemporary settings. And this is only the start of what these books offer writers.



 In fact, swing by and check out this hidden entry from the Rural Setting Thesaurus: Ancient Ruins.




And there's one more thing you might want to know more about....





Becca and Angela, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, are celebrating their double release with a fun event going on from June 13-20th called ROCK THE VAULT.



At the heart of the Writers Helping Writers site is a tremendous vault, and these two ladies have been hoarding prizes of epic writerly proportions.

A safe full of prizes, ripe for the taking...if the writing community can work together to unlock it, of course.

Ready to do your part? Stop by Writers Helping Writers to find out more!

Featured Fig: ME!?

You probably won't believe this, and I was so excited I was almost too nervous to do it, but, I am thrilled to announce

I am this weeks Featured Fig: Victoria W.!! Figment reached out to me a couple weeks ago and gave me some interview questions. It took me nearly a week to get through the nerves I had. Figuring out your own voice is harder than it looks. Do I try to be witty? Do I try to be serious? When is serious too serious and silly too silly? But, finally towards the end when I prayed and asked for the Lord's help did I find my voice and I was so proud in the end.

Please, feel free to check out the interview on Figment.com by clicking the link above or the picture below and leave a comment here on my blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Featured Fig: Victoria W.

I actually wasn't sure how Figment chose who to Feature each week but I discovered that Figgies like myself came and requested, voted, for me! You have no idea how much that meant to me. 

Thank you figgies! You are amazing!

Meant To Love Monday!

I have missed writing for so a while now! I just haven't been able to get my head in the game, you know? Blogging has really been helping as well as writing some fiction between some new friends has really helped get me back in the swing of things. Couldn't be more grateful for our time spent together.

Three years ago I wrote a short story for Figment.com contest. You had to use this paragraph in the beginning of your story. The word limit was 1,500 (if you only knew how badly I despise word limits! It's better just to let me paint the wall and when I go over to the next than I'll go back and fix it. Otherwise, I over think about that one wall...) which for once I actually got under the limit! Which is rare for me cause I love describing thing and always go over the limit. It turned out pretty well. I got a lot of Hearts and very nice and helpful comments and critiques. But one day I decided I really wanted to try at the story again. I really loved it and I just wanted to add more to it, maybe rewrite a few scenes that didn't make sense anymore, and just give it new light. I started and nearly completed it late last year and I am proud to say I have finished!

Now with almost 3,000 words (double the original!) I can share with you all this completely remaster version of

I'm really excited about this, I think it turned out exactly if not better than I intended (which means you know God had a hand in it! Always) 

Feel free to read it on Figment.com and if you really feel inspired you can leave a comment on here letting me know your thoughts about it or if you are a Figment Member you can leave a comment right on the story!

Round of Applause for Featured Fig: William Carter!

I couldn't help but share this with you today. I logged into my Figment this afternoon and saw something so exciting at the bottom of my page. Our very own William Carter! I couldn't be happier for him and to see the path he is taking, one for God and imagination! This young man will be go places and inspire people; he inspires me already, so can you imagine what will happen when he's let loose on the world? Honestly, I can't wait to see his writing on the shelves on bookstores. 

Congratulations Will! We're all so proud of you! 

Featured Fig: William Carter

Read his featured interview on Figment.com by clicking the link above, you'll love it! 

Figgy Friday #12

Welcome to Figgy Friday Spotlight! Today I am glad to present...

Looking For Fireflies 

by 

Kristin Sherrill

I saw this and knew it looked interesting, but I didn't know it was going to be this good! The writing style is good, I like getting to see from more than one persons perspective, even in the beginning you get to hear the from the voice of the girl who was murdered! I cannot wait to read more! Very well done Kristin!

Until next time Figgy's and Guests!

Figgy Friday Spotlight #10

Welcome to Figgy Friday Spotlight! Today I am glad to present...

Losing You

by

Grace Whitney C.

This piece was so moving and beautifully written. It felt like she was writing straight from my soul, speaking the words I couldn't find how to say. The rhyming was absolutely marvelous, it added more to the depth and feeling of this poem. Wonderful piece and job Whitney! I can't wait to to come back and read more of your work. 

Check back again soon for more Figgy Friday Spotlights!

Figgy Friday Spotlight #9

The curtain is rising and today's Figgy Friday Spitlight is...

I started following this author two years ago. It was an exciting action spy thriller type story (I'm still waiting for it to be finished!) but this one was completely opposite and a what wonderful surprise it was too. 

It's a beautiful short story filled with heart. I wanted to cry. You just might too. I don't want to give too much away cause I really want you to read this story! It won't take but a few minutes of your time. But the way she described the boy, his actions leading up to him playing the piano and how he came alive when his fingers touched the keys. It was as if I were the one standing there, watching sand listening to him. It just touched by heart through and through. 

If you like her writing you can find her blog in this link shieldmaidenthoughts.wordpress.com

See you back here March 14th for the next Figgy Friday Spotlight!

The Girl in the Orphans Clothes

Today I was looking at our first Figgy Friday Spotlight "William Carter" and I saw he's been quite the busy bee since we last saw him. Hopefully you all have kept better eye on him than I. However, something caught my eye: The Girl in the Orphan Clothing. I don't know, it just intrigued me.
What could he have written in that? I really believe God does pull us to things and we just don't realize it cause we're not as in tuned with Him as we could be. Cause once read this I felt Him drawing me in even more, for something more.

It was a poem, a Haiku to be exact.

Quick note: A Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. Using three phrases with 5-7-5 syllable pattern, haiku's are supposed to paint a mental image in a readers mind with those 17 syllables (that is hard!)

I've always had trouble understanding Haiku's. One of my friends loves writing poetry, especially Haiku's, but it's hard pressed to understand them (as I have just found out, they all are, it's not just me!) but there was one special reviewer that explained and helped me understand it.

Alexis Bradley said:

 "The first line represents how sin separates us from God. Are action and how we choose to live our life. The one's that are not Christ like and how easy it is for those sins to pull us away from him."

"The second line represents her separation from the father [God]. Because it doesn't state that she's a orphan rather that she's trapped in the facade of being one. We're all God's children and yet she has lost that and doesn't seem to realize it anymore."

"The last line is Satan's triumphant. He takes pleasure in her separation."

I was amazed by the meaning and depth these 12 words, 17 syllables, held. And what Will told was something many people go or have gone through, including myself. 

Why is it so easy for us to forget "we are all of God's children"? Let me back up here just a moment. Read back the last sentence. What's missing? You've all heard many a times that we are all children of God but there's always something forgotten when we quote that back to people. Something even I hadn't really put together till this evening when I was looking up this verse again.

"So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." --Galatians 3:26

We all keep forgetting we have to keep our faith in Christ, our trust and our hope is and should be in Him. Cause when we don't we forget, we get lost or sidetracked and feel like orphans abandoned in a world that's so messed up and without God. But that's not true, we're never alone. Those are the lies we're attacked with by Satan so when he see us he can laugh and try to say he's won. But he hasn't won. No, he hasn't. And he never will. God stands beside you, he's never left you and he never will. Lean on him for everything and in everything you do.

"Trust is like a staff you can lean on as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting Me consistently, the staff will bear as much weight as needed." --Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young

 I know many of you have heard Psalms 23 "The Lord is my Shepherd."  I know you have. But listen to this verse carefully. 

"Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me." --Psalms 23:4

Dictionary Definition: 

• Rod: A thin straight bar, esp. of wood or metal; a slender straight stick or shoot growing on or cut from a tree; a wand or staff as a symbol of office, authority, or power.
• Staff: a long stick used as a support when walking or climbing or as a weapon

Wow. So when your feeling weak you, we, can lean on Him, this staff that's always at our right hand (or if your left handed ;)) ready to hold us up, to help us climb that mountain or fight and protect us against our enemies. ALWAYS there to SUPPORT...You.

Reading the definitions of those two, what once were simple, words has opened my eyes to a deeper meaning of who God is. Though he's a great many things, but we'll save that for another day. :) I'm learning, truly learning, that God is my truest and most trusted friend and lover in the universe and I'm finding comfort in His word and truth. 

I'll leave you with this tonight and hope you have a blessed evening and I thank you for reading. I hope you got as much out of it as I did, or even more. :)

"But I am an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I trust in God's unfailing love, forever and ever." --Psalms 52:8

Figgy Friday Spotlight #6

The curtain is unveiling. This weeks Figgy Friday's Spotlight is

"Hard To Believe"

by

Kaitlyn Watson



It's hard to believe (pun intended!) just how talented this girl truly is. She has a true gift for story telling. Her mind constantly throwing readers into a whirlwind of imagination and emotion. Though this is a rough edit of her story, it still captures me. A girl who has no sense of touch finds herself fighting to get her life and love back with the help of the, slightly flighty, great granddaughter of Fairy Godmother (Cinderella's fairy godmother). It's not a kitty story by far. I don't know all of what this astounding author has in store, but I honestly look forward to this book one day being a bestseller! <3 Modern meets magic, faith, and love!

I don't usually post songs with Figgy Friday's, but I was inspired with this one ;)



See you all next year!

Figgy Friday's Spotlight #5

The curtain is unveiling. This weeks Figgy Friday's Spotlight is

"To Freeze the Constellations"

by

Jasmine Q. Lee

A beautiful poem. I loved how she showed that no matter what, even if our world is tattered and torn God is always there. Even when we forget Him, He's there with arms wide open. Blanketing us with peace and hope. Teaching us to keep moving, dancing, singing, smiling, despite the obstacles we face. Cause no matter where you are in life He will always catch you and make you whole.

(pardon the day lateness of this post!)

Check back December 20 for the next spotlight

Figgy's Friday Spotlight #4

The curtains are drawing. Today's Figgy Friday Spotlight is

Thanksgiving in Utopia

by

Brooke Norris

Wow. Just...wow. I almost can't write the review for this I'm left so speechless. This is a magnificent story of Thanksgiving and finding the true peace and home. So beautifully written, it's inspiring. Keep up the wonderful work Brooke Norris!  

Check back December 6th for the next spotlight!

Figgy Friday's Spotlight #3

The curtains are rising! Today's Figgy Spotlight is...

"Lying in the Road"

by

K. Leah Lotus (Kim)

This is a beautiful poem/song with a wonderful flow of emotion. Showing that love can wait, no need to rush. In God's timing and in patience it will find you. I was truly awed after reading this. What a wonderful piece of writing. I hope Kim keeps writing more like this in the future.

Check back for the next Figgy Friday Spotlight!
November 22nd