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A Writers? Guide
How to Write a Book

     I share my thoughts with aspiring authors and writers on how to write a book. Most of the information is geared towards fiction writing, but can be useful for non-fiction authors also.
     Writing With a conscience is the home page of this sub-site. The main page includes a complete index for the writers? section. The introductory article talks about writing a novel or short story with family values in mind. Can a writer include things like violence, sex, drink and drugs and still be considered clean and moral? Yes, depending on its presentation.
     Why did I Write? My thoughts on what prompted me to write these stories and become a published author.
     Section 1: Dealing with questionable subjects such as drink, abortion, tobacco, drugs and violence. I included two short stories as examples. These stories include margin notes on writing. Lorraine covers abortion. Fishing Hole deals with a victim of violent crime. (Picture of vitim is at the top of this column) Each of the following sections may also link to these two stories.
     Section 2: Write to be Published. I talk about character and scene development. Don?t over do description, but at the same time do not neglect background or character detail. Dress your character. Let clothing help deliver you message. Include lessons on responsibility and consequence.
     Section 3: Grooming One?s Writing Style. Everyone can improve on his or her style. Write and re-write. Traps, damage control, keeping lists.
     Section 4: What makes a Catholic writer? How to present topic favorable to and in conflict with the Church.
     Section 5: Modern technology and writing programs. Tips on making the best use of grammar and spelling check in Word, examining other writer?s soft ware. Using your search engine effectively for research and samples. Preparing your document should you self publish on POD.

Birch Clump Magazines
     Check out my magazines. The Birch Clump Villager comes out three times a year (every four months). The Villager is about north country living, stories and artwork.
     The Birch Clump Chronicle comes out only when I have articles concerning Native American Ministry issues. It was a bi-monthly, but the small audience and specialty needs are such that I wait until I have articles for it.
     Manuscript and Submission Policy: These are general guideline to submitting your stories, art or articles to be published in my magazines.

Congregation of St. James
A Native American Franciscan Order

     The home page of this sub-site gives the general overview of the need, purpose and proposal for establishing a Catholic Religious Order of Franciscan Friars of and for Native Americans. The congregation (CSJ) does not yet exist. I developed this Order for the Friars found in my novels. I have since published a Rule and Constitution of how such an order could actually be founded. It is based on the Franciscan Rule and the Letter of St. James found in the New Testament.
     The Rule and Constitutions is included in this four-page sub-website. A lose Assocaiation Association currently exists for persons already involved in Native Ministries of some form.

     Research and Resources This page contains links to some of the sites I found useful for researching Indigenous ministry concerns on inculturation. These include Vatican Documents and Papal speeches, recommended books and other links.
     Ministry Links: A page of Church organizations and related projects.
Art

     Every page of this site has some art or photos.
     Kathy Johnson is the illustrator of the two novels. A few of her pieces are gathered here. Two other items by Johnson are found here and here.
     The 1969 Birch Clump Year Book features a few portraits by me, the author, of some of the characters in the novels. Village Photos features pictures from Cedar River, Michigan, the site I had in mind when I created the fictional village of Birch Clump. New authors looking for ways to illustrate their own books can see some of my art sketching methods.