"The Creative Process of Writing
is a Liberating and Therapeutic Experience"
www.virtualwritingcoach.com
May, 2009
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Publisher's Note
3. The Men's Fraternity
4. Helpful Hints
1. Preview
The Writer's Connection explores the creative process
of writing and the interplay between thoughts, feelings,
and actions. We are an interactive community of authors
and readers who share ideas to enhance our knowledge,
skills, and experiences in writing fiction in any genre,
but our emphasis remains mystery and suspense thrillers.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers writing tips
for authors, coaching suggestions, editing, and marketing
information.
Topics are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton
and represent only his ideas on producing your first manuscript,
and are provided to the general public. Because we are
an interactive community of writers, other viewpoints
are welcomed and may be printed in future monthly newsletters
with permission from Keith Barton.
2. Publisher's Note
May, 2009
Dear Writer's Connection Subscriber,
This month's newsletter features: The Men's Fraternity
3. The Men's Fraternity
Robert Lewis began a men's ministry in Little Rock, Arkansas at Fellowship Bible Church.
From its small beginning, The Men's Fraternity, has gone global with three books:
The
Quest for Authentic Manhood,
Winning at Work and Home, and
The Great Adventure. These
books are designed to foster spiritual and emotional growth among men. The three-part
series comes in a DVD format with each lesson lasting about 40 minutes with small group
discussion with a list of questions with each lesson. I have had the privilege to spend
two years with over 800 men in attendance at Fellowship of the Woodlands, Texas to
follow God's principles for a servant leader called to lead by sacrifice for his family.
The Quest for Authentic Manhood is a 24-lesson series designed to help men discover their
true identity and learn how to experience genuine masculinity. Small group discussions follow
each lesson with confidentiality ensured to foster trust and honesty. This series teaches men
how to lead courageously by example rather than dictatorship or right of passage as a man.
Topics include breaking away from your parents to lead your own family following biblical
principles of love, integrity, and sacrifice. Husbands and wives, fathers and sons, fathers
and daughters are addressed so that fathers can be not only a parent, but mentor and consultant
to their children as they grow into adulthood.
Winning at Work and Home is the second in a 16-week series that captures man's two most important
worlds: home and work. Robert Lewis maintains that men must be winning in both places. Paul's
admonition that we must "die to live", permeates this second book. Each lesson teaches man's
responsibilities to relate to his co-workers and family. Each participant develops a 10-Key
Move list to achieve success. Money, sex, parenting, communication, and developing a passion
for work are addressed in a humorous, biblical perspective following Christ's example with
the early church.
The Great Adventure is a 20-week study to help men understand their true identity and to guide
them to break free from the bondage of boredom and to embark on the greatest adventure of their
lives towards living a Christian life. I am scheduled to take this third course in the fall and
look forward to meeting with men who wish to improve upon their relationship with God and to
mentor to others.
One might ask what do Christian authors have to offer the general public. This is a good question
in today's secular society that has been described as "not a Christian nation". I don't wish to
get into a political debate about separation of church and state but there are moral principles
by which we should live by. William Bennett described these principles earlier in his
Book of Virtues.
Moral
decline can be seen today in families and in the workplace. Whether one addresses this in a
religious or secular way is immaterial as long as we realize that we are not better off today
morally than our parents or grandparents. Teenage pregnancy, crime, gangs, cheating, sex between
teachers and students, exorbitant bonuses and profiteering permeate our global existence and we
selfishly take from our resources without putting back for future generations.
Liberal and conservative may disagree on process but they both agree that we are egocentric and
unwilling to advance society without taking care of ourselves first. Patriotism is now confused
with conservatism; fascism is paired with the liberal elite. Such simplicity only serves to divide
a nation founded on Christian principles. Paul's admonition of "dying to live" is as profound today
as it was two thousand years ago. If we are to bring peace and harmony to the world we must start
with our families and places of work. Robert Lewis reminds us that we cannot change the world; we
can only change ourselves.
Helpful Hints:
- Look at your parents' and grandparents' generation and describe how they
related to each other and to their community.
- Is loyalty important today in the workplace? Why or why not? What are the
reasons for this change?
- Morality defines character regardless of your religious beliefs. Look at
your friends and ask yourself these questions: would I work with this person?
Would I want them to babysit or coach my children?
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Contact Information
Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-583-5005
Fax:281-583-5008
Web: >
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E-Mail:
keith_barton@att.net
(c) Copyright 2009 A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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SMis copyrighted, but
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Republication of The Writer's Connection
SM
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With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue
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The Writer's Connection SM Mission:
The Writer's Connection
SM is dedicated to
helping first-time authors create their first manuscript
for publication and to offer an exchange of ideas and
opinions from our readers who might be interested in becoming
authors.
The Writer's Connection is a publication of The Virtual
Writing Coach and Keith Barton, Ph.D. and a registered
trademark.
We would like The Writer's Connection
SM to
be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments,
topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional
resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time.
Send your e-mail to
keith_barton@att.net.
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Archives
You can read previous issues of The Writer's Connection
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archive section.
About Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University
of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist
for over thirty years. He is currently enrolled in MentorCoach
and is accepting new clients.
He has been an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina,
consultant to Fortune 500 companies in executive development, founded
and managed Texas Community Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing
group home services to persons with mental retardation. Keith founded
and has been running a clinical practice in Northwest Houston since 1990.
He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel
a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate
interest in helping others become attuned to their creative
powers of storytelling.
Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family
therapy and health psychology. He has published articles,
made presentations and conducted workshops about:
Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Marital/relationship enrichment
Wellness issues
The relationship between psychology and spirituality
