Doubtbusters! God Is My Shrink!

This is a wonderful book. It really needs to be in print. I will be praying that it gets printed. God bless you.

Bruce, I didn't get to the accident until just now. The suspense here is good, but think about putting more suspense right from the beginning. "I'll shut up now", I guess I really believe in your book to get so preachy. Sorry. Veronica

Bruce, You've got a great book idea here that may come to help others someday. I have read through here and there up to chapter six and will continue. I really like these two characters.

The only thing I urge you to do is look at, especially the longer dialogue of each character. Ask yourself if they would speak like this if they were real people. The speaking seems a bit too formal and perfect. It needs to be made more real with stops and starts and pauses and without perfect wording---like real people talk. Really, listen to people speak, and you will understand what I am saying.

This should be a quick fix. When you have a long dialogue moment, you tell the listener out loud what you want to say, the way you usually talk. If you have someone close that can help you with the other side of the conversation, ask for their help, how they would say it. Then you'll get the idea how people really talk. It is never perfect English---never with perfect adverbs and adjectives.

Hope this helps. I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I've read dialogue and have written dialogue. There are writer's books that deal with this extremely important subject. I recommend you look on line for Writer's Digest books, etc. A little work now will go a long way in making your book the kind that gets published and read by those who need to read it.

Also ask yourself if these two guys would continually talk like this. I keep thinking you need a good subplot that will keep them busy doing something else, something that brings suspense into your book, something that brings the two of them into a situation where there is tension, well suspense, so the reader wants to find how that will be resolved as well. The fact they both loss loved ones is good, but it is not suspenseful. If both of the had a sick child or wife who might or might not recover, now that would bring suspense.

It is all about keeping the reader's interest so they don't want to put the book down.

I have done much studying on how to write fiction. Now I am working on a YA book. I hope all the self-studying from how to write these books pays off. Actually, I just want to serve my Lord and write wholesome fiction that keeps the readers reading about Him.

Pray about all this. God will guide you.

Peace, Veronica (Ronnie please) PS Let me know what you think.

I have put your book on my watch list. It grabbed my interest in the first chapter. I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions if you have time to read a little of my book, Treading Water With God. Veronica, Caregiver.

All but for an act of God on this site, Bruce -- what is faith if
we don't follow the nudges as our Lord guides us. Largely
ignored now, perhaps we'll be
the authors in the Kingdom...
I'll take a read, although you're preaching to the converted--I enjoy
our attempts to witness...
Katherine
of vessels

I was fascinated to read this work. I'm not a Christian, but I thought that you write very well and that your book deserved more support on authonomy. I do hope you are still writing
I shall read more, when I get some time.
Best wishes, Barry
Little Krisna and the Bihar boys

Bruce: this is non-fiction, so it is critical to edit these pitches. Both of them did not work for me. In both you are TELLING, instead of SHOWING. Perfecting your pitches is how you climb in ranking to gather more exposure and comments to better your novel. The writing is good so I am SHELVING you.

Though I have been a very active member for over a year, I can still use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Every little bit helps. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

This book is a guide to better spiritual health. It's clever, because instead of being written as an essay or sermon, it's written as a conversation between two men. In other words, instead of being a lecture, it's a thought provoking, enjoyable read. I'm adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

I've read all Your upload - parts 1-4 plus the closing part: 16 - of 'Doubtbusters! (...)'. This is a series of sermons presented in the form of Your dialogues with Joe. We meet both of You talking in just a few places: the swimming pool hot-tub, the golf course, the bank and the hospital. All the conversations are warm (not only those in the hot-tub) and spiritual. Your preaching is very soft and gentle. And successful: 'doubting Joe' becomes 'beliving Joe', eventually... Shortly before he dies. 'A Tragic Triumph'. Although perhaps Joe never understood how God can be three Persons (not many really do), some other of Your explanations, like the definition of 'sin' (as 'something like cats and dogs') seemed pretty accessible, even for such a simple-minded person as him. It was interesting to read how You combined conscious breathing You learnt from the therapists at Pine Rest in Grand Rapids with Your praying, but I'm sure You know that sometimes breath itself and wordless prayers (meditations) can be more powerful than paternoster. 'Logos' also means 'idea' in Greek language and thus may refer to mere mental energy and not necessarily to its verbalization - provided that talking about God and His intentions and actions makes any sense at all. All our intepretations of the Bible could be regarded as blasphemy. Truly, 'we are not perfect', but we MUST try, and on daily basis, as 'we are children of God (...) and we shall be like Him'.

Hi Bruce,
I just put your book on my watchlist. It looks very interesting.

Wanda, Love and Abuse:On Forty Acres

Bruce,

I was perusing around the site a caught a hold of your manuscript...this is some pretty impressive stuff. I'm baffled at the intricate working of the human mind.

"Bruce Leiter give apologetics with style, clarity, and gumption all with a keen sense of conviction."

Keep up the good work!

With Regards,

MARK