Beauty Tips for Ministers
Because you're in the public eye, and God knows you need to look good.
Shhhh…. She’s Wighting!
June 26, 2008 on 11:51 am | In PeaceBang Personal |Dearest pigeons of my heart,
If your noodgy stage mother PeaceBang does not get down to some disciplined writing this summer she will be very disappointed in herself. She has two big projects to work on: first, she needs to make some progress on her doctoral dissertation on the relevance of covenant in the 21st century church.
Second on PeaceBang’s big Writing Projects List is to get this blog into some kind of book form and to send something decent to publishers before September 1st or thereabouts.
These are big goals that will require me to focus, focus, focus, which means that I will not be contributing many — or perhaps any — more posts to this blog for awhile. There’s a treasure trove of information in the archives for you to peruse in the meanwhile, and I hope that you will.
Your prayers for my productivity are most welcome.
Kiss of peace, PB
[seen here outlining sermon topics for the coming year while on vacation in Provincetown, MA during the summer of 2006. Yes, that’s an Officially Unapproved Amount of Cleavage, but I was on vacation; in fact, in my jammies. — photo by Michael Hammond]
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LOVE the hat! Good luck w/the writing!
Comment by Miss Conduct — June 26, 2008 #
Hats with jammies– fabulous.
Comment by Mrs. M — June 27, 2008 #
If this blog became a book, I’d be one of the first in line to buy it.
If you meet your Sept. 1 deadline and the book was published, it would probably be out in time for the beginning of my ministry career.
Many blessings on your writing!
Comment by Charlotte — June 27, 2008 #
Dear heart, if you need someone to go through your old posts looking for something, or to re-index something, or if you need proofreaders or beta readers or whatever, just ask here. I’m sure you will have no lack of volunteers. [SERIOUSLY!??? Good Lord, you’re manna from heaven!! Right now I’m cutting, pasting, musing, designing, trying to figure out basic format…- PB]
Comment by Allison — June 29, 2008 #
This post leaves me with one question and one question only: What is the officially approved amount of cleavage?!? hah!
[Hee hee! But seriously, ’cause I do think about things like this, my own guideline is that there’s no cleavage at all when I’m standing and if some appears when I sit or lean over, it has to be no more than maybe half an inch. It’s a goal. I strive to reach it and don’t always make it because I get cleavagey in EVERYTHING. - PB]
Comment by Pinkhammer — June 29, 2008 #
Oh, yes, I’m serious. I even have some suggestions, which you may entirely ignore, laugh at, or take to the Necessary Room as, well, as needed.
Regarding basic format, you might want to take a look at existing books on style or grooming that the same or similar content. For example, take a look at the “what not to wear” books (I think there are some from both the US and UK versions of the show). Compare them with books like Dress for Success. (There are probably plenty of other examples, most likely available in your local HugeBookStore.) Then ask yourself if the information is accessible enough to help you go shopping, or decide what to take on a trip, or wear in a pastoral emergency.
Consider the existing index of this site. Could you use it to draft chapter divisions? Is the balance of information correct, or will you need to add info in some areas and cut (AAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!) in others? Also, are you a linear thinker, or do you tend to digress (which can be fine, if you’re careful about providing cross-references).
Also, look at books on other subjects that have a similar tone. What makes you feel comfortable and at home. What seems too snarky? What makes you say, wish I’d written that? For example, take a look at Miss Manners’ various books, some of which are huge. She interweaves general advice with responses to questions from her Gentle Readers.
Are you planning to quote your powder pigeons? If you do, will you need to get permission from the quoted pigeons? Your publisher may be able to help with the legal questions.
Then, think about illustrations. (One of my beefs with the Dress for Success books was that the illustrations weren’t consistent with the text.)
You have lots and lots of choices. After all, there are cookbooks with pictures of every technique, and of each step in recipe preparation. There are cookbooks that kindly diagram how to slaughter and butcher a cow, and provide no other visual help. You might scatter illustrations throughout the book, even reserving a wide margin or a column on each page for them, or you might group them all together. Again, your publisher can probably help with this.
Finally, do you need or want to include a CD bound in with your book? (I can’t imagine why, but that’s why I’m asking).
If you want, feel free to email me.
Remember, this work is a real ministry, so you deserve the support of the people of God to help you carry it out. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for it.
Allison
Comment by Allison — June 30, 2008 #
Hooray, a PeaceBang book!!
I just wanted to chime in and say OH the witch hazel pads on my eyes have been SAVING me this week. Thank you!!
Comment by kate setzer kamphausen — July 2, 2008 #
Some of you folks are lucky because you HAVE cleavage! No, it isn’t cancer, it’s just a genetic condition that leaves me envying women (but not men) with more than two graceful foothills, forever hinting at mountains that failed to arise.
So when you’re on vacation — or sabbatical — by all means, go for it!
And yes, your late grandmother the milliner would be PROUD of that hat!
Comment by Elz — July 4, 2008 #
IMHE (in my humble experience) the key to focus is grieving all the neat things I will not be discovering, the brilliant things I will not be saying, the marvelous adventures I will not be having during focus time. This grieving is constant– a discipline at the beginning, a companion on the path.
Needless to say, I do not focus very often.
Comment by Elz — July 4, 2008 #