Thanks, Cec by Andy Scheer

His book shares lessons from a lifetime of writing.

In his long career, Cecil Murphey has written or co-written more than 135 books, including breakout bestsellers Gifted Hands and 90 Minutes in Heaven. His books have sold in the millions.

For years he’s taught at writers conferences and instructed writers through his blog.

While he said at his recent Writer to Writer event that he’s winding down his in-person conference participation, Cec has made sure his teaching remains available.

I returned from Murfreesboro with a copy of Cec’s book Writer to Writer. As I scanned its pages, I realized this is one book I need to pore over.
“This isn’t a grammar book,” he says. “This isn’t a rulebook for writers. This is an attempt to share the lessons I’ve learned as a professional writer. Nothing else.”

The eleven sections reflect the 400-page book’s practical value:

● Beyond the Amateur Look
● Start to Finish
● Show Me, Show Me
● Working with Verbs
● Grammar Rules
● Improve Your Fiction
● Blocked Writers
● Being Edited and Editing Groups
● Those Awful Rejections
● Literary Agents and Contracts

● Making a Living as a Writer

Each entry spans no more than two pages. Almost the makings of a one-year writers devotional.

“I’m still learning,” Cec says. Thanks to this book, we can, too—from one of the best.

Who Is Your Sounding Board? by Andy Scheer

Do you have someone off whom you can bounce your writing ideas? Even better, someone who feels free to bounce their ideas off you?

The value of such a relationship struck me this weekend as Wayne and Cristie came for the weekend. They live two hours away, with a metropolitan area in between, so months often pass between when we see each other. When we do, we try to make up for lost time.

This Saturday as we drove to an event, Wayne asked me about his latest book idea. He didn't detail the approach, so I imagined a different slant and responded accordingly. Turns out he likes some aspects of what I suggested and will begin his research accordingly.

That evening he asked if I'd speak at the next meeting of a group to which we belong. The topic he named was nowhere near what I was going to ask about teaching—but a much better fit.

But the process wasn't finished. I named three aspects I thought I should cover. He reigned me in and suggested I focus on the one facet he thought would most interest the group. Again he was right.

We didn't limit our conversations to writing. We shared our experiences with our adult children, discussed their upcoming trip to Israel, and traded tips on gardening and couponing (mostly Carol and Cristie did that). And we browsed used book stores and pointed out finds to one another.

At the end of the weekend we all came away with treasures we otherwise would have overlooked.