Now that the holidays are out of the way, we’ve been doing a lot of work here at the Global Ministry Center to create an interactive, tangible “grand opening” exhibit space to introduce the new mission magazine at General Assembly this July in Orlando, Florida.
We’re still in the ideas stage — brainstorming ways to attract attendees into the space, expose you to the magazine, and give you some kind of “takeaway” that will remind you to visit the Web site after you’ve returned home, so you won’t forget to read the stories written by your Nazarene brothers and sisters, and to contribute your own.
Factor into these exhibit discussions our mandate to scale back our operating expenses by a minimum of 10 percent and we’ve had to get really inventive! I think cutting budgets is a fantastic exercise — it fosters greater innovation, as well as greater dependence on God, whose resources are abundant.
So, we’re trying to think about ways to make your time in the new magazine’s exhibit fun, interactive, hands-on and creative without spending too much on the actual exhibit. One goal is to develop something that you will have a role in shaping throughout the week.
General Assembly presents the first opportunity for widespread exposure to the new magazine. The tricky part is developing the exhibit at the same time as we are developing the magazine itself. Once again, an opportunity to rely more on God and less on ourselves.
I hope we will see you at General Assembly!
Here’s an amusing article to explain when it’s appropriate in the English language to use “I” or “me” when indicating oneself and another person.
Is there a different rule for this when writing in your language? Post a note in the comments section below.
Also, here’s a great run-down on common English grammar mistakes and how to avoid them.
Tags: English grammar rules
The desk is piled high with stacks of as-yet-unfiled papers, illuminated by a soft fluorescent glow from overhead lights that cast no shadows. A faint buzz of murmuring voices in nearby cubicles blends with the distant ringing of phones — all just quiet enough not to be distracting, but not too quiet.
As my fingers ratta-tatta-tatta back and forth along the keyboard, just the aroma from my fresh cup of coffee gives me a little burst of electricity. (You know what they say about the psychology of caffeine.)
Drawing the mouse across the mousepad, my fingers brush over tiny irregularities in the otherwise flat surface — remnants of my mid-morning snack of raw broccoli and cauliflower. In fact, the Ziploc baggie of fresh vegetables is waiting to be finished off, next to a little cup of creamy ranch dressing near my desk phone.
Sometimes I think my cube could use more color — the beige walls on three sides of me, beige carpet, beige filing cabinet and an off-white desk surface are broken mostly by the unruly piles of white paper, manila folders and more stacks of paper. Even the various 8 by 10 photographs from recent vacations pinned on the fabric panels isn’t enough to overpower the all-encompassing beige.
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Did you feel like you could see my cubicle here in the World Mission Department? Could you almost picture yourself here?
I just gave you a sensory description of the “scene” in which I’m writing this blog.
Providing sensory descriptions in your articles will give your readers much the same experience — of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching the setting in your story. When a reader feels like she is here in the story, she is more likely to keep reading.
It also does something else — it gives the reader hints about the people or place in your story, without your taking the time to spell it all out.
For instance, did you feel like you were a bit more familiar with me after reading about my desk?
You learned that I like coffee, and that I probably like to multi-task — eat and work simultaneously. I’m eating vegetables — is a diet involved, you might wonder? (There’s not, just in case you’re wondering. I just happen to really love vegetables. And ranch dressing.)
The desk is described as being covered with piles of paper. Do you get the feeling I’m a bit disorganized? (I hope that you concluded I’m very organized, but just don’t utilize a hanging file system.)
Providing sensory details within your story — painting a scene with words, as it were — engages the reader, helps the reader feel personally involved with what he is reading.
Grab your notes and add the following categories:
1. see
2. hear
3. touch
4. taste
5. smell
You may not be able to include details in every single category. In many cases taste won’t be involved, and that’s fine. But think back to the place or places where your story unfolds. Picture it in your mind and then begin writing what you see, what you remember smelling, the sounds you heard, and so on. Later, you will use these words to prompt yourself in creating a sensory description for your reader.
Tags: writing
We received an even 100 suggestions for the magazine’s name. We closed the suggestion timeframe on Dec. 31, at midnight and in the next couple of weeks will decide on a name for the new publication.
Thank you to everyone who, during a busy time of the year, stopped for a minute to employ your creative abilities and send in your ideas.
Your involvement in this publication will make it a great place for Nazarenes around the world to gather and inspire each other in our shared mission in Christ!