FREE Book Idea: Lots of Conflict, Interesting Technology and Dynamic Characters or Using News Articles as Fodder for Fiction

I'm neither and inspirational writer nor a sci-fi writer, but today after reading a most-interesting article, I wish I were at least one of the above.

Check out this article on cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/07/14/virtual.preaching/index.html?hpt=Sbin

If you don't have time to read it, here's the summary:
Preachers and pastors can now HOLOGRAM themselves to satellite churches or locations. In essence, even if it LOOKS like your pastor on the pulpit, it's really only a projection, an illusion. Virtual Church.

Here are some questions that came to mind immediately:
1. How does the congregation(s) feel about not being able to touch the pastor?
2. How is the pastor able to create close relationships with members of his or her congregation?
3. How does the church justify the steep expense?
4. What implications does this technology have on mission work?
5.  Is this technology the answer for "spreading the gospel" to third-world countries where illness, e.g. malaria and dengue fever, or violence, e.g. Congo, Sudan, may be a problem?
6. How do churches decide what technologies are appropriate for their particular mission and creed?
7. How are discussions about the impact of technology handled within the congregation(s)?
8. Who handles things like hospital visits and couples/family counseling? Is there a team of support clergy?

I'm sure there are tons of other questions that can be drawn from this but the above eight have already boggled my mind so I'm going to stop listing.

Please understand, I'm not trying to encourage a particular viewpoint here. I'm just interested in how this new model could change and mold perceptions of church and how much it might impact individual parishoner's relationships with clergy.

This is a great news article from which to draw fodder for fiction. There are so many potential conflicts, disagreeements and interesting discussions that are possible with this as a plotline, or sub-plotline. I can easily see this as an inspirational title---pastor struggles with technological changes that impact a congregation--- or as a sci-fi title complete with an imaginary world and an even an imaginary religion.

If YOU decide to write this book, send me a copy. I'd love to see how it's handled.

Angi Morgan: SEEING YOUR COVER FOR THE FIRST TIME

Thanks once again to South Carolina Writers’ Workshop for having me as a guest. I saw my cover for the first time on June 14th. Weeeellll, not really. Hill Country Holdup has a TERRIFIC, MOST EXCELLENT cover, and yes, I saw it posted on Amazon.com for the first time on Monday, June 14th. But it wasn’t the first time I’d “seen” or developed a cover for See Jane Run (working title).

Many moons ago when I began attending local chapter meetings on writing, a speaker asked this question and I hope you’ll do the same: Close your eyes and picture your book. Where is it? What does it look like? Do you have that picture? NOW--Did you picture the book as a hardcover or paperback? Who are the authors you saw next to you on the bookshelf.

Did you have that image? Did you create a cover? Or did you leave those unbound pages wrapped in a rubber-band and stuck high on a closet shelf? Have you gone to the bookstore to see exactly WHERE your book will be when you sell?

Why do writers write? We want to tell stories. Lots of us are great storytellers, but we WRITE those stories as books. And in the publishing industry you can’t tell a story unless someone READS it. I wanted my family and friends to take me seriously. I wanted to prove that I could tell a story in an interesting way. So years ago, I printed my manuscripts, three-hole punched them, and bought a binder with a see-through plastic sleeve. I included: dedications, published by, a back cover blurb, a peak at the next book. AND I designed book covers.

Each of my books had a place on my shelf. Copies of my books were loaned to friends and their friends. I went to the book store and pointed to my daughter, “That’s where my book will be.” And more importantly, I got to know several bookstore managers. I went to signings and watched. I learned. But most importantly, I ALWAYS knew what my book looked like.

My question for you: Tell me and be honest. Before reading this article, HOW did you picture your book?

This week’s lesson learned: Visualization, positive thinking, meditation, prayer, whichever path you choose...YOU have to believe in yourself. *I* have to believe in myself before others can have confidence in me too.

‘Til next time,

~~Angi

AngiMorgan.com

Some upcoming topics of discussion:
-An On-Going Behind the Scene Look at Getting Ready for Publication
(promotion, character sheets, log-lines, bios, etc.)
- My Hero Has Brown Hair?
- Targeting Your Book & Choosing Your Market