A3's Managing Editor Host, Genre Chat. Junior Agent for Cyle Young
Winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. Published in MTL, Christian Rep and other online Magazines, Cherrilynn strives to write for the Glory of God. Currently, she is working on a series of non-fiction books and a YA mystery novel with her son. She is a Speaker with “WomenSpeakers.com” and “By Design Ministries". Cherrilynn resides in East Greenwich, RI with her husband and 15-year-old son, both named Michael; her M&m's.
I started working as a professional writer when I was seventeen. So completely captured by the craft, I made the decision to make it a big part of my life. As exciting as it is to be a young author, I learned quickly that writing comes with a lot of unique responsibilities. Responsibilities I didn’t fully understand before I signed a contract.
Recently I went to see the new Spider-Man: Homecoming movie. As a chick flick girl, I didn’t expect the movie to touch me the way it did. But halfway through, I started to identify with Peter Parker in a way that surprised me. Outwardly, Peter was living the life of a normal high school kid, but inwardly he was carrying the burden of a heavier responsibility. Just like a teen writer.
Here are some ways that being a teen writer is like being Spider-Man:
You’ll Miss Out on High School Fun
Peter Parker (Spider-Man) chose to skip out on parties and everyday teen life because he knew saving the world was more important. In the same way, writers choose to value their ambitions over a little teen fun. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to relax now and then, but it does mean that sometimes you’ll have to meet that deadline instead of hanging out with friends.
(Your friends will understand.)
Revealing Your Secret Identity Could be Devastating
Although I enjoy telling people about what I do, revealing my author identity isn’t always in my best interest. I am an introvert, after all. Many people don’t know a real author. When they find out who you are, they might crowd you. “What’s your book about?” “Is your character anything like you?” and “When can I read it?” are all common and predictable questions you’ll receive if you become a professional writer. Though these questions are genuinely appreciated, they might wear you out fast. You have a responsibility to yourself to make sure you don’t get overloaded by people’s opinions and expectations. Keep it simple. Be discerning. If you don’t feel comfortable telling someone the intimate details about your novel’s inner workings, it’s okay to cut the conversation short.
You’ll be fighting More Than Bad Guys
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker isn’t only battling The Vulture. He’s also fighting against his own rebellious teenage heart, and he’s facing the world’s cruelty head-on. Every day, he looks at levels of evil that his peers don’t even know exist.
As Christian writers, our task is to ultimately share the gospel through our work. Believe me when I tell you the enemy will be attacking you like crazy. Especially during big events in your career, expect the adversity to be there. Not only will you be responsible for meeting those writing deadlines (fighting The Vulture), you’ll also be carrying the weight of the world at times (spiritual attack).
Do you remember in the beginning of this post when I said I was completely captured by writing? I am. That’s something Spider-Man and I have in common, too. Peter Parker was so passionate about Spider-Man’s mission that he was willing to sacrifice everything for it. As a teen, I chose to be a writer because I know that despite the unique challenges and responsibilities, writing is something I’ll always be willing to sacrifice for.
Stephanie is a professional writer and journalist living outside of Buffalo, New York, where it probably snows a lot. She’s pursuing publication for her first novel, Reaching Home, and she spends her quiet moments writing poetry and blogging about her adventures with God. Stephanie has a heart for sharing real stories and encouraging authors to write for Jesus and love what they do. She’s a big believer in hard work, audiobooks, and chocolate, and can usually be found changing the world somewhere.
Last month we shared Part 1 about the categories assigned to children’s books.
We’ll now share more details about each category. Remember—these are not hard and fast rules. Publishers change these categories to meet the needs of their readers. But they ARE good guidelines for writers.
First Books – Board Books – Concept Books
Come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Often use specialty materials/productions that children can feel, smell, touch, hear, etc.
Made to be durable.
Often assigned by publishers to one of their own authors/illustrators.
Present concepts connected to the young child’s world.
Must give the young child an emotional connection to the book.
Must evoke feelings in the young child, nurture a young child’s curiosity, engender pride, engage minds and emotions.
Deal with universal themes: loss, fear, love, anger, loneliness, joy, curiosity, anxiety, etc.
Use literary devices, rhyme, meter, wordplays, imaginary words.
Invite the young child to participate in the story. Ask questions. Elevate children’s common experiences into something magical.
Picture Books ages 3 – 6 and 4 – 8
Most are 24 or 36 pages (including beginning & ending pages). Sometimes they are 48 pages and written for older readers.
Deal with universal themes: loss, fear, love, anger, loneliness, joy, curiosity, anxiety, etc.
Use imagination to elevate children’s common experiences into something magical.
Tell a simple story (no sub-plots) that presents an MC with a problem. He/She finds their own solution to that problem.
800 words or less.
Emphasizes nouns and verbs.
PBs are collaborations between author and artist. Words tell less than half of the story. Illustrations tell the rest.
NOTE: Rhyming PBs are difficult to write and to sell. The rhyme and rhythm must be perfect. Use of other literary devices is required. The STORY must take precedence over the poetry. Both story and poetry must be outstanding for the book to be publishable.
Easy Readers ages 5 – 9
Usually 1000 – 1500 words. 32 – 64 pages in print.
Some have chapters which are actually individual stand-alone stories about the same characters, some don’t.
They are written on one of three separate reading levels with its own controlled vocabulary.
Format (size of the book, size of the type, amount of white space, etc.) is controlled to assist emerging readers.
Chapter Books ages 7 – 10
Most are 1500 – 10,000 words. 40 – 80 pages in print.
Usually divided into 8 – 10 chapters which add to one main story.
Plots can be a little more complex with simple subplots.
Use lots of dialogue.
Vocabulary is challenging for target readers but still controlled.
Some chapters end with cliff-hangers.
Middle-Grade Novels ages 9 – 12/13
Most are 10,000 -16,000 words. 64 – 150 pages in print.
Use a wide vocabulary and subplots.
Often silly or funny even if they deal with serious themes.
They emphasize characters over action.
Most chapters end with cliff-hangers.
Young Adult Novels ages 12 and up:
This genre is subdivided into Young YAs and Older YAs by subject matter, themes and use of graphic or explicit language.
Older YAs deal with almost any subject that adult novels deal with, and use just about any language and depict any scenes that adult novels use, but often to a lesser degree.
In Young YAs authors and publishers are more careful to avoid mature subjects, language and references to sex, drugs, alcohol and violence.
NOTE: Christian publishers of YAs have different standards for what they will and will not publish in their books. Follow their guidelines exactly if you want them to consider your manuscripts. Read several of the YAs they have published recently before submitting your manuscript.
As a pre-teen, Jean Hall dreamed of being an architect or an interior decorator. As a high school student, she dreamed of being anything BUT a teacher. As a college student, she dreamed of being a vocalist. As an “over-fifty” woman she dreamed of writing stories for children. But, as life unfolded it seemed that none of those dreams would come true.
But,
Jean spent twenty-six years teaching children and teens–and loving it!.Then twenty more years teaching women’s Bible studies. She never designed a house, but she lived in, and decorated on a shoestring, more than a dozen houses. She never performed before thousands, nor recorded any music. But she sang hundreds of times leading people in praise to the LORD. Now, she is working hard and trusting God to lead her down the road to traditional publication.
Sometimes our dreams come true in ways we couldn’t imagine.
It is Jean’s daily prayer that The Christ within her shines through the cracks and broken places of her dreams and that Christ shines through the things she writes to uplift, encourage and inspire others.
Please tell us about your most Recent Book: “The Christmas Pumpkin” and“The Worst Day Ever!,” are illustrated children’s books inspired by actual events.
“The Christmas Pumpkin” is based on my son’s first visit to the pumpkin patch. He decided to pick a green pumpkin instead of orange. Later we found a green pumpkin growing behind our house in November and carved our Christmas pumpkin. The story is about a young boy who decides to carve a star, “like the star the Three Wise Men followed to find the baby Jesus in the manger,” on a neglected green pumpkin and let his light shine. Even though everyone laughs at his idea, his family supports him as he shows everyone what a green pumpkin can do for Christmas. It is a message of self-confidence, family values, and perseverance.
With “The Worst Day Ever!,” I like to say, “We changed the names to protect the guilt…INNOCENT, because, while mistakes were made and feelings were hurt, they all learned the valuable lesson of empathy and compassion for others.” Inspired by one day in my son’s life in kindergarten. The first time he would experience getting in a little trouble with his teachers and having some friends pick on him at school and unconditional love and understanding at home.
Both stories are very popular with ages 4-10 as well as teachers and counselors.
Why do you write what you do? I write what I know. When I started this accidental journey, I was writing about my son and experiences in his young life. I realized so many others the same age are having the same experiences, why not share the story. Lately, so much of the content young children are exposed to includes sass and snark. It is important to share positive, family-friendly messages without the disrespectful language.
I aim for approval from family-friendly organizations like Dove, and Mom’s Choice, Parent’s Choice, etc.
What are you currently working on? Another story, based on actual experiences in my son’s life, which continues to share the message of compassion and empathy for others.
How does your work differ from other work in its genre? I always include an activity page so the reader can express themselves creatively after reading the story. I do not write with disrespect or sass. If there is a character that behaves that way, that character also receives an appropriate response of correction to remind young readers to have empathy and compassion for others. I choose to have the entire process happen in Texas; from writing, editing, and illustrations, to design, printing, and distribution.
How does your writing process work? My stories are based on what happens in my son’s life. Since I also market, promote, sell, and distribute the books nationwide, I write when something happens that strikes that emotion. Now that he is a teenager, perhaps there will be some YA or middle school books in my portfolio.
Debbie grew up in Maryland, worked for the NSA, moved to South Carolina, and worked in tech support for a school district until she met her husband, had a son, Matthew, and moved to Texas where she decided to be a full-time mother. She would write small articles for the local newspaper from time to time although she didn’t anticipate turning into an author.
While working at her son’s pre-school, she wrote ‘The Christmas Pumpkin’ during the children’s naptime. She drew the illustrations while he did gymnastics, and put it away as a memory. An “inner voice” lead her to share these stories through publishing. Several years later, after Matthew had a rough day in school, she wrote ‘The Worst Day Ever!’
She wears all the hats of a small business owner, as well as a mother, and wife while she promotes and shares her books. She’s taken a “crash course” in business management, not from a college, but from real life experiences.
Her books have sold nationwide as well as in other countries. She does school author visits, speaks to mother’s groups, exhibits and sometimes speaks at other interesting events such as library/school counseling conferences, Christmas tree growers, pumpkin/corn maze owners, & Santa Claus conventions.(some of her favorites)
Have you ever picked up a book and after a few pages, put it down saying, “This isn’t for me.” Have you ever listened to a speaker and found yourself turning away, thinking, “This guy doesn’t get it.” Or have you met with someone offering professional services—perhaps a consultant or coach—and walked away, saying “We just aren’t on the same page.”
As writers, we want to connect with our readers. We want our readers to say, “Yes, I get it.” We want to receive reviews that say, “This writer knows what it’s like” or “This author is my kind of people.” In the words of Seth Godin, author of Tribes, we want to develop tribes—followers who get us, understand us, and perhaps most important, believe that we “get” them.
When we connect with our readers, we develop loyal and faithful followers. When we speak the language of our readers, we grow our tribe. And we sell our books, along with our products and services. So how do we as writers become more reader-centric?
I believe that it starts with the strategic plan for your book—before you write the first word. Who is it that will benefit from your book? Who needs this book? What groups of people are hungry for the ideas and solutions that you offer? By first starting with your targeted reader as the central point for your writing, you begin to write in a reader-centric manner.
And remember the Native American proverb: if you chase two rabbits, you will lose both. Don’t think your book is for everyone. It is for someone. And once you identify that someone your writing will improve.
[bctt tweet=”Don’t think your book is for everyone.” username=”@A3writers”]
Are you a reader-centric writer? One way to test that answer is to examine your writing. While your stories and experiences are indeed about you the writer, do you include the reader? How many times do you use the word “you” versus the words “I” or “me”?
In working with an author’s manuscript, she often discussed “my” clients and talked about what “I” did. We took another look at her writing, and decided that it was possible to make these into “you” statements, by merely changing the statement from, “This is what I have done,” to, “Are these situations that you have experienced?” By refocusing the writing we were able to create language that was inclusive.
Next, develop ongoing strategies to keep in touch with your readers and your market. Outlined here are several ways to strengthen your radar and keep your readers’ ideas, challenges, and needs in the foreground.
Invite feedback from your reader. When you write a blog post, do you end with a question? Have you invited the readers of your book to interact with you on your website? Have you given your reader a reason to visit your website by providing some incentive, like a white paper, template, or checklist that would be of value? Do you provide your email, website, or social media contact information in your writing? It was by doing some “letter to my reader” and “FAQ” writing prompts with my clients that I learned about the need for coaching about becoming reader-centric writers.
Interview your reader. My readers are my clients, and I ask them lots of questions when we meet one on one, in our group coaching sessions, and when we meet for coffee or lunch. I candidly ask for their feedback so that I can continue to make my coaching services more effective.
Ask probing questions of your readers (and clients). What are your biggest challenges? What’s working for you? What isn’t working? Where have you made mistakes? What information have I as the writer shared that has been most helpful or most confusing? Do you agree with my advice?
Hang out with your reader. I’m always looking for ways to be in community with my readers. What conferences do they attend? What publications do they read? What organizations are they members? By attending the National Speakers Association convention last summer I was able to learn that many speakers were writing blogs and had plenty of content, yet had no idea about how to turn that content into a book. By attending that convention, I learned about a need that became my new service offering and my newest book, Blog2Book!
Your writing will be stronger, your content more applicable, and your readers more faithful when you develop strong skills that keep you in touch with your reader. As I share with my authors in The Writers’ Pledge, we exist as writers to serve our readers:
I pledge that I will continue to work so that I gain clarity and focus for my readers, audiences, and clients. Then I can continue to make the world a better place, one word at a time.
[bctt tweet=”Become a reader centric writer.” username=””]
Cathy Fyock is The Business Book Strategist, and works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a book as a business development strategy. She is the author of Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You’ve Already Written. She can be reached at Cathy@CathyFyock.com.
Welcome Tosca, can you share a little about your recent book –
Firstborn is the sequel to The Progeny—a story about the fictional descendants of the infamous “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory. It’s about a group of mostly young people living in hiding, having been hunted for centuries by a secret society committed to eradicating their bloodline. In particular, a 21-year-old American girl named Audra, who has chosen at the beginning of the book to electively erase the last two years of her memory in order to protect a powerful secret—one that she soon learns refuses to stay buried.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
It’s something I’ve just always done, even from a young age. I never really thought of it as a job per se, until I was talking about some of my favorite books with my father and how much they move the heart and can feel like a fabulous emotional roller coaster—and blurted out that I’d like to write one myself. And I’ve been writing ever since. Why I do it: to explore other lives and ideas I don’t get to encounter in my own life, and to take my readers on that same journey, whatever it may be.
How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?
All my life, though I didn’t write my first novel until I was in college. That was 1989. I got my first book contract much later, in 2006.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Anywhere from years and years to as little as six weeks.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
If I’m not actively working on a project, I may not write at all. But when I’m working, it’s what I do all day with the exception of family or social obligations.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I have to ritualistically clean out my desk, home, and computer files between each project. I think it makes me feel like I’ve put in order everything that got messy in the process of obsessively working on my latest project.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
My readers. I love the writing, too, but it’s the readers and the lives I have the privilege of touching and interacting that make it so rewarding.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
Writing through tough life circumstances. A divorce, depression, anxiety. Those are very hard. Writing through publishing industry changes and upheaval at one’s publishing house is also very hard and disruptive to release schedules. That can be demoralizing.
Which of your books is your favorite?
Much as with my kids, I don’t have a favorite. J
Who is your favorite author to read?
I have a ton of author friends. Are you trying to get me killed?
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?
Work on your next project while you’re trying to sell your first. It can be very hard to write your second book while doing all the release stuff for the first, especially as those first reviews come in. It can really do a number on your mind.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
Haha, so many times I can’t even count. Even from one of my favorite authors, Marion Zimmer Bradley, when she had a fantasy magazine back in the late 80s.
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
I’ve got a few favorites in every scene, though one of my favorites of all time is the freshly created Eve in the garden of Eden, running full-speed and reveling in her strength, freedom, and life… before it goes very wrong.
Where do you get your ideas?
Some while driving, sometimes from the news, and also sometimes from readers or editors.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Not reading enough. You have to read and study what works so well in other books. And you have to show, show, show and keep scenes very simple and clear. I also find that a lot of early novelists lose sight of tension in their chapters. You must have tension.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
This is a hard question to answer so broadly, but I always say write what you love. Don’t try to predict the market or go where you think there’s money or a break. Just write what you love and can be great at.
What others are saying about Tosca Lee
“Superior storytelling.”
–Publishers Weekly
“One of the most gifted novelists writing today.”
–Steven James, bestselling author
FIRSTBORN, the highly-anticipated sequel to THE PROGENY, is out now!
Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of THE PROGENY, ISCARIOT, THE LEGEND OF SHEBA, DEMON: A MEMOIR, HAVAH: THE STORY OF EVE, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker (FORBIDDEN, MORTAL, SOVEREIGN). A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games and football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband.
You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the snack table.
Once Upon a Time: Trade Secrets of Copywriting from Ancient Near Eastern Storytellers
The internet is abuzz with storytelling. Novelists, filmmakers, and playwrights have been churning out narratives for years, but now copywriters stake their claims to the elements of story. We’re no longer selling products; we’re now telling a brand’s story.
Donald Miller, CEO of Storyline and New York Times bestselling author, says, “Telling a good story is the key to being understood.”
We moderns are not the first people to discover story’s power to connect, of course. Humans have told stories since pre-historic times. Who was it but the ancient storytellers who gave us the towering tales of Homer, Beowulf, Canterbury, and Genesis?
What’s the first story you remember reading? Or writing? Or hearing? I remember reading Charlotte’s Web and crying for hours afterward. That’s how I knew I loved story.
According to Persian legend, Scheherazade told the greatest stories of all time. She, perhaps, was the first content marketer. Certainly, she had more riding on her success than most of us do. After the king of Persia’s first wife proved faithless, he married a string of women. Each subsequent wife spent one night with him before he had her executed. Scheherazade chose to end the massacre by marrying the king herself. She cleverly spent her one night telling the king a story. She stopped at the climax and refused to continue until the following night. The king spared her in order to hear the end of the story.
The next night, Scheherazade finished the story and began another, stopping again at the climax. This continued for 1,000 stories over 1,001 nights until the king relented his decree of death and made Scheherazade his queen. Her stories became The Arabian Nights.
What about Jesus? Nearly all his teachings contain a story. Jesus, though, didn’t tell stories for their own value. He typically left the characters unnamed and the endings open—as if he intended his hearers to see themselves in the story and then finish it in their own lives. Sort of like a good content marketer would do, only Jesus also redeemed the world while he was at it.
Drawing from these examples, how can we use the power of story to sell products through great copywriting? Let’s take a quick look at the 5 elements of story and how they influence writing for business.
Turn to Donald Miller again. “A story is a character who wants something and has to overcome conflict to get it.”
Character – In story theory, a main character is “the player through whom the audience experiences the story firsthand.”[1] Who is the main character in a business’ content? The reader is a popular answer, and it’s often true. Sometimes, however, another character stands in for the customer. Think about Flo from Progressive, the Geico Gecko, the “Dude, you’re getting’ a Dell” guy, and the old lady who asked “Where’s the beef?”
Have an identifiable main character in your business’ story.
Setting – What’s the time and location in which the character faces conflict? Fiction and narrative non-fiction require a setting to ground the story in the reader’s imagination. Why does setting matter for content marketing? Because the setting in your story needs to be the one your reader wishes he or she were in.
Set your story where the reader or customer wants to see himself go, not where he already is (‘cause that’s boring).
Conflict – All stories need conflict.* Without it, you have a series of events, not a story. I’m reading Crossing the Line, a great novel by Bibi Belford. I want to keep going because I have to resolve the conflict. But I can’t stand to keep going because I know the conflict’s going to get worse before it gets better. That means, of course, that the author did her job with the conflict element of her story.
If you sell diet products, your reader’s conflict is between fatty food and health food, between the gym and the sofa. Stoke that conflict until the readers have to see it resolved in their own lives. (For examples, see Jesus’ parables.)
Plot – Is your brand’s or business’ plot emotionally engaging? Think a story about a business can’t stir your emotions? Check out this ad for Kleenex, this one for life insurance, and this one for a brand of automobiles. I’ll wait while you collect yourself.
Don’t let your brand’s story appeal to people’s greed. Stay true to the better side of human nature. We could all use a little grace, after all.
Theme – Flannery O’Connor, the South’s greatest storyteller, said, “People talk about the theme of a story as if the theme were like the string that a sack of chicken feed is tied with. They think that if you can pick out the theme, the way you pick the right thread in the chicken-feed sack, you can rip the story open and feed the chickens. But this is not the way meaning works.”
Theme flows naturally from the other four elements. Don’t try to shove it in there.
If you write fiction, tell me what I missed. Are there other elements of the story? Other links between writing novels and writing for business? Anything else that would make the links between storytelling and copywriting clearer?
The internet’s abuzz with storytelling. Why not add your voice to the conversation?
*All novelists who are able, please stand and shout your agreement. Thank you.
Holland Webb: I love telling the stories that people put down so they go take action. I’m an advertising copywriter by day, an aspiring novelist by night, a parent, a dog-lover, a prison volunteer and a follower of Jesus.
For the past five years, I’ve been blogging for teenage fiction writers. As the editor-in-chief of an online magazine for teenage writers, I’ve alternately approved and rejected many articles targeting teenagers and have gained a lot of experience on what works. While the prospect of writing for teenagers may seem intimidating, as someone who wasn’t a teenager all that long ago, writing effectively for teens is very doable if you follow a few simple steps:
Get to the Point. We live in an era where a lot of different opportunities are pulling on people’s attention. This is especially true for teenagers. I don’t believe that means we need to write short pieces for teens (most of mine tend to be between 1,500 and 2,500 words). But it does mean you need to get to the point immediately and not waste time rambling. If you avoid writing fluff and hit your points hard, you may be surprised at how many committed teens will keep reading your writing. [bctt tweet=”If you avoid writing fluff and hit your points hard, you may be surprised at how many committed teens will keep reading your writing.” username=””]
Don’t Try to Sound Sophisticated. In my experience, teens can handle complicated topics just like anyone else. But you need to know how to phrase it—and you can’t put it in sophisticated terms. Teens aren’t looking for someone who sounds smart and educated. They’re looking for someone who communicates effectively without putting on any airs. You’re not doing yourself any favors by using words that sound intelligent. Instead, learn how to speak their language, explain complicated concepts in simple terms, and reach them where they’re at.
Be Personal. Teens value authenticity and relatability. The more personal you can be in your writing, the more effective you’ll be in writing for teens. Perhaps more than any other group, teens want to read about someone who sounds like them and who can communicate to them in relevant ways. Don’t be afraid of revealing a bit more of yourself than you would otherwise, or sounding a bit less professional in your blogging style. The more personal you are, the more teens will trust you and care about what you’re saying. Remember: a little humor can go a long way!
Connect Complicated Concepts to Practical Examples. As a high school English teacher, I often have to explain complicated literary concepts to teenagers. Breaking concepts down into simple terms helps, but relating these concepts to practical examples—like a current event or a current trend—can make a world of difference in the classroom. The same principle applies to blogging. When I’m helping teens with complicated writing concepts, showing applications of those concepts in popular books and movies makes them a lot less complex. The more you can connect what you’re saying to what teens are familiar with, the better.
Writing for Teens Isn’t Much Different than Writing for Adults. Sometimes, writers get too concerned about changing their writing for teens. But at the end of the day, teens can handle a lot more than we think they can. Speaking as someone who wasn’t a teen that long ago, we don’t like it when people dumb stuff down for us. Many of the principles I’ve already described apply when writing for adults as well! The only difference is how you apply these principles. If you assume that teens can’t understand important concepts, you’ll reap what you sow. But if you treat them as intelligent adults while tweaking your style appropriately, you may be surprised by how much they can rise to the challenge.
If you write high-quality content that hits teens where they are, you’ve already won the main battle; everything else is in the details. When I was a teen, I was consistently frustrated by how shallow most books and blogs targeted at teens were, and ended up reading many books targeted to adults if I wanted to learn anything. There’s a huge untapped market for reaching teens effectively with writing that’s actually helpful—particularly in the fiction writing sphere. Treat teens like anyone else while keeping their idiosyncrasies in mind, and you’ll be well on the path to writing effectively for teens.
Bio: Josiah DeGraaf is a high school English teacher and the editor-in-chief of http://kingdompen.org/, a site that equips teens to write for Christ with proficiency and purpose. When he’s not working at either of those pursuits, he spends his free time reading fantasy novels and trying to break into the fantasy market. You can follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JosiahDeGraaf
As an English major in college, I was eager to put my skills to work… I wanted to create something . . . I wanted to be someone special. There was only one problem—a big one, I had nothing to write about. Unless, I shared my mischievous adventures, but that would just be one long confessional.
My English professor encouraged me to reminisce about past relationships. I found myself overcome with shame. So I did what most would-be writers would do. I read anything I could get my hands on: Screenplays, self-help books, cookbooks (my father was a chef and cooking is creating out of necessity,) and comic books (guys are visual!)
My reading choices —poor choices—led me down a path I knew was wrong and I used my gifts for my own desires. Growing up in church, I knew Jesus set us free from sin (Romans 8:2-4,) but more often we live like we are free to sin. It’s a twisted lie of the devil; he takes our freedom and promises us more.
Free?
Dictionary.com defines free as: “Enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery, pertaining to those who enjoy personal liberty, possessing civil and political liberties.”
Most people view college as the first step to adulthood, we are free from the rules of our parents and their watchful eyes. We are free to learn and form our own opinions. Robert Frost notes, “College is a refuge from hasty judgment.”
I felt the liberty to make mistakes; however, I failed to learn from them. Thus, my Heavenly Father had to step in and remind me He was in control.
After dying in a car accident, I was given a second chance to use my passion for writing for His glory, not mine. I spent eleven months learning how to walk, talk and smile again. After losing those liberties, I promised God I’d use my gifts however He wanted me to.
At first, I struggled and wanted to do my thing. He pursued me and I realized the power of a second chance. It’s not a freedom to keep doing the same thing over and over. Grace is a second, third, fourth, etc. chance to do the right thing.
In recent years I’ve learned God has created me in a unique way for writing, I am free to be who He wants me to be. My flaws, and personality traits, lack of formal spiritual training and past give me a unique perspective and creative voice.
I don’t have to be the next great theological scholar constantly pursuing education to stay on top of the religious mountain of greatness. I’m content with serving God however He chooses. Scripture is clear if God wants to do great works through me, He can do more than I can (Ephesians 3:20, 1 Peter 5:5-6, James 4:6-7.)
More or less?
Our sin nature makes us crave more. But in God’s kingdom, less is more. The least is greatest; God makes the wise foolish and the foolish things wise.
When we are crucified with Christ, we are surrendered to His will—then God can do great things. A few years ago I interviewed my mentor for my book. He shared:
“I decided to join the military after college. My first duty station was in Tacoma, Washington, in a leadership position. I would never have dreamed I would have a 30-year career in the military.
God’s plan for my life would take me all over the world and allow me to have experienced and learn invaluable leadership skills that would serve His kingdom for His purpose. The opportunities given to me and my family were beyond my wildest dreams. When God has a call on your life, you must use discernment to help you make the right choice. My name is Paul Wingo and I am crucified with Christ.”
God’s will is not orchestrated by man. In May I attended my first Blue Ridge Mountains Christian writers conference. The first morning I shared a table with an older gentleman from breakfast.
After we finished eating, he invited me to his class. I had spent an hour eating with the 30 year Hollywood veteran Brian Bird. To my amazement, we have become friends and encourage each other in our craft of film.
As Christian writers, we encourage others with the gospel, not with false positive feel-good words, but the honest truth. Recently, I attended a free Christian concert in Atlanta.
Singer Bart Millard shared, “The blessing and curse of being a songwriter is my therapy is I write songs about these things (suffering.)” Our job as Christian writers is to tell the hard truth because the truth will set you free (John 8:32.)
Martin is an award-winning Christian screenwriter and former model who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book after three years of researching, editing and remembering.
While majoring in English, he walked away from the Christian faith to experience the grandeur and luster of college life. While dating, he delved into different spiritual beliefs—from Hinduism to Catholicism and Judaism.Martin’s journey took him on a journey for answers.
In March of 1997, Martin received his answer. Albeit, not the answer he wanted. Nearly dying in a severe car accident, he survived with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side.
After enduring eleven months of humiliating rehabilitation and therapy, Martin found himself at the foot of the cross with a choice to make. It was then Martin realized to truly live, he had to die. Not physically but in every other area of his life. There could be no compromise.
Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries Martin shares his testimony. Martin explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives.
Book Genres specify the types of literature that share certain common aspects. Genres include mystery, romance, historical fiction, fantasy, dystopian, adventure, etc.
Book categories specify the age-appropriateness and expected reading levels for children’s books. Industry experts vary in their opinions on the various categories, but the information I’ve included below is, at this time, generally accepted as accurate.
Some writers like to focus on one or two genres until they become skilled in that area. Others like to experiment with numerous categories. As a writer that’s your choice. Almost everyone agrees that it is important to know your target category as you work on a manuscript. It is also important that you identify your target category when submitting your work to editors or agents.
First Books – Board Books – Concept Books
Come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Often use specialty materials/productions that children can feel, smell, touch, hear, etc. Are made to be durable. Are usually assigned by publishers to one of their cadre of authors/illustrators. Present concepts connected to the young child’s world.
Picture Books ages 3 – 6 and 4 – 8
Most have very limited word counts – 800 words or less to tell the entire story. Most are 24 or 36 pages (including beginning & ending pages).
Easy Readers ages 5 – 9
Usually 1000 – 1500 words. 32 – 64 pages in print. Some have chapters which are actually individual stand-alone stories about the same characters, some don’t.
Chapter Books ages 7 – 10
Most are 1500 – 10,000 words. 40 – 80 pages in print. Usually divided into 8 – 10 chapters.
Middle-Grade Novels ages 9 – 12/13
Most are 10,000 -16,000 words. 64 – 150 pages in print.
Young Adult Novels ages 12 and up:
This genre is subdivided into Young YAs and Older YAs by subject matter, themes and use of graphic or explicit language. Older YAs deal with almost any subject that adult novels deal with, and use just about any language and depict any scenes that adult novels use, but often to a lesser degree. In Young YAs authors and publishers are more careful to avoid mature subjects, language, and references to sex, drugs, alcohol and violence.
Please share this information with your writing friends using the share buttons below. Thanks! Next month I’ll give you a lot more details about each category. See you in October!
In the weeks before a conference, my excitement and happy thoughts twist into nervous doubts. What if I get there and no one talks to me? What if I flop all my appointments, or end up with agents and editors I don’t even want?
What am I trying to write, anyway?
I forget the wonderful conference experiences I’ve had in the past. The deep friendships I’ve begun and the mentors I’ve met. Every time I return home from a writer’s conference, I’m miles ahead of where I was, even if it’s just in inspiration. But these memories fade from my mind as the next event approaches.
As I prepared for ACFW 2017, I slipped into this same cycle of doubts. The weeks sped by, and I wasn’t feeling any closer to ready. I planned to pitch a novel in a new genre, which seemed a great idea in the spring, but now looked like a dangerous mountain hike through unfamiliar terrain. I scheduled a critique with a writing coach to help me polish the story, and tried to stay positive while waiting anxiously for her response.
It came, and within a few hours, I knew this novel needed a major reworking. What was I going to do? The conference was mere weeks away. I’d planned to pitch the story to several professionals I admire who might not be interested in my other completed novel. It was too late to change my appointments.
My first instinct was to interrogate God. He’d led me to this genre and this novel. Why did he let me pour myself out into an unstable story structure? And if I really was a writer, I’d have known from the beginning it wasn’t going to work.
Then I read a meditation by Samantha Trenkamp for Daughters of Promise Magazine. She told the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten cowardly spies. The ten spies saw giants, and reported that the Israelites could never take the land. They forgot that God was on their side. Caleb and Joshua realized how small men are compared to God, and, instead of giants, they saw enemies that were too big to miss. Why were the two reports so different? It was a matter of perspective.
All my fear and panic about conferences comes from viewing them the wrong way, without God by my side. Writers conferences are stuffed full of opportunities to learn, befriend, and network with passionate and talented writers, editors, agents, and publishers. It’s impossible not to gain wisdom and inspiration in such a place, even if it doesn’t go exactly the way I want. Though it’s painful when plans must change right when it seems crucial to have it all together, this is God teaching me to rely on him.
Without God, the writing conference giant may crush me. But with God, I can’t miss such a huge target. I’ll come away with new friends, fresh inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the writing craft. And that is more valuable than any perfect pitch could be.
Bio: I’m Sheri Yutzy, and I’m a storyteller who believes that words hold unimaginable power. I’m passionate about writing life-changing literature for people of all ages. I write and edit for Daughters of Promise, an Anabaptist women’s magazine, and am working to get my first two young adult fantasy novels published.
Got challenges? Don’t we all. Life is filled with obstacles on the pathway to realizing our goals and purposes. How do you conquer them?
Well, for a quick fix, I look for something in my power wardrobe. When I wear clothes that fit well and look great on me, I feel empowered and confident. Power clothes shield me from people seeing me in my unvarnished weakness. Like, the crippling insecurity that often comes from . . . well . . . for instance—heading to a writer’s conference to mingle with peer professionals.
I spend a lot of time preparing for writers’ conferences. They keep me focused on my writing goals, providing a deadline for completing projects. I look forward to networking with other writers. Mentoring and being mentored. Growing in my skill sets. Crossing thresholds of new publishing opportunities that might present for me.
All this anticipation fuels my writing fires—until about two weeks before the conference. Then, though I may have my files, proposals, and conference plan in order, a mountain range of doubt looms before me. These obstacles in my path lead me to question everything I’ve just spent weeks preparing.
“Who do you think you are, a REAL writer or something?”
“You always confuse your tenses and use too many commas— what a joke.”
“You have nothing original to say because it’s already been said.”
“You can’t run with the big dogs at writers’ conferences—you need to stay on the porch.”
Confidence shrinks back. Uncertainty rises-up. A mole-hill becomes a mountain of fear and doubt. That’s where the power wardrobe comes in. I put my confidence game face on. A mask, in fact. I set my face, like flint, to power through the stones, rocks, and boulders that cause me to stumble in weakness on my way. No one will know I shake in my boots behind my mask of confidence, facing the challenges before me. I look sensational in this outfit with a nifty floral pattern!
My computer and files are packed. My power wardrobe is carefully chosen to fit, masking my inner turmoil. But, all is vanity because . . .
My mask is removed at the end of the day.
Sometimes it falls off in the heat of the fray.
That’s not such a bad thing; it leads me to pray,
And Jesus responds, “There’s a better way.”
When I seek to walk in my purpose and calling as a writer, I struggle with confidence going forth. No amount of sensational looking power clothes will overcome the root of my insecurities. The mistake I make is wearing a wardrobe like a mask to just get by.
Masking your confident-to-the-calling shortcomings will not do. There’s nothing wrong with selecting a great looking wardrobe for a writers’ conference. We should present our best selves in outward appearance. Yes—do look sensational.
It’s not about externals. You’ll go all the way to genuine confidence, rather than the mere façade of it, if you give quality attention to packing your internal wardrobe—the closet of your heart. That’s where true confidence roots, producing fruitful and fragrant blossoms that attract and influence. No nifty floral patterns are necessary.
Clothing yourself in the head-to-toe skin-sufficiency of Christ is the bedrock power of true confidence to the task, whatever that is. Be it writers’ conferences or just waking up in the morning, put Christ on in the spirit, before worrying what clothes you’re going to pull out of the closet.
And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. Galatians 3:27 NLT
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
As a writer, no matter the challenges before you, God calls you to take each one in His wisdom and strength. The crossing of thresholds involve risk—like arriving at a writers’ conference and passing through the doors to the registration desk. Or sitting across the table from the editor or agent you hope to impress. Slip into the skin-sufficiency of Christ when crossing the thresholds of your life and divine calling. The point where risk meets Confidence.
Prayer Journal: Thank you, Lord, that my calling in You is sufficient to the task and the compass to my purpose. You have promised to complete the work You have begun in me. I shall go forth in joy. You will lead me in peace. The mountains and hills of obstacles will break forth before me and be turned to praise by Your hand. I will shout with joy as I know you are cheering me on to accomplish all You have called me to do. Philippians 1:6, Isaiah 55:12
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[bctt tweet=”Wearing #confidence: A #Writers Wardrobe Must-Have @misskathypwp” username=””]
I learned a great deal about walking in Christ’s confidence, boldly taking on challenging risks over the past six years of my independent publishing journey. I power-packed many of those spiritual and life lessons in my latest book, The Gatekeeper’s Key: Crossing Thresholds through Portals of Potential
Want to know more? Check out The Gatekeeper’s Key in the Pageant Wagon Bookshop. www.pageantwagonpublishing.com ~ by Kathryn Ross
Writer-speaker, Kathryn Ross, ignites a love of literature and learning through Pageant Wagon Productions and Publishing. She writes homeschool enrichment and Christian living books for home, church, and school. Her passion is to equip women and families in developing a Family Literacy Lifestyle, producing readers and thinkers who can engage the world from a biblical worldview. She blogs and podcasts at PageantWagonPublishing.com.
In this conversation, literary agent and award-winning author Cyle Young shares the difference between a writer and an author, the definition of “floating body parts,” and pros and cons of both self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Award-winning author Bethany Jett closes the show with information about Serious Writer, Inc, and their subsidiaries, specifically Serious Writer Academy.
Join us!
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is a fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.
Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Facebook Group.
When you boil it down to the basics, writers and editors are both seeking the same thing: excellent writing. I’ve been writing for magazines for many years and I’m a former magazine editor. One of the publications (Decision) where I was Associate Editor reached 1.8 million people with each issue. While editors and writers are focused on excellent writing, I also understand what qualifies as “excellent” is subjective.
In this article, I want to give you three ways to improve your article or query submissions so you can improve your rate of publication success. One of the keys is to understand the role of the editor and how to write what the editor wants. The editor knows their reader and target market. When I was an editor, I read every submission or query with this question: “Is this article or query a good fit for my readers?’
Read the magazine cover to cover with analysis before submitting. It may sound like a basic but you would be surprised at what writers pitch without ever reading the publication. As you read the magazine, study the details. Do staff members write most of the publication? Do they publish freelance writers who are not on the staff? Do they have regular features? Who writes these features and is there opportunity for you to write this material? You can learn a great deal as you study the publication. As a writer, find the publication and study the details.
Target magazines which publish their upcoming themes. Many publications, such as denominational magazines, will plan their themes for an entire year. If you pitch or write an article on the editor’s list, you will get a closer look and consideration than someone who sends a random idea. Also know that seasonal and holiday pitches or articles are always needed. Think about the forthcoming holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make sure you pitch at least six to eight weeks before the holiday to get consideration or your article may be accepted but not published until the next year.
Read the magazine guidelinesbefore sending your query or article. Many publications have their guidelines online but if not, take time to write for the guidelines and review them before you write the editor.
Every editor is actively looking for great writing to fill their publication. If you follow all or several of these tips, it will improve your opportunity to touch their readers and get published.
Terry Whalin believes print magazines provide one of the best opportunities for writers. A writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, Terry lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin
Lindsey P. Brackett’s debut novel, Still Waters, releases September 8, 2017. Published with Firefly Southern Fiction, an imprint of LPC Books, Still Waters tells the story of Cora Anne Halloway.
Cora has a history degree and a plan: avoid her own past—despite being wait-listed for graduate school. Then her beloved grandmother request—and her dispassionate mother insists—that she spend the summer at Still Waters, the family cottage on Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
Despite its picturesque setting, Still Waters haunts Cora Anne with loss. At Still Waters her grandfather died, her parents’ marriage disintegrated, and as a child, she caused a tragic drowning. But lingering among the oak canopies and gentle tides, this place also tempts her with forgiveness—especially since Nan hired Tennessee Watson to oversee cottage repairs. A local contractor, but dedicated to the island’s preservation from development, Tennessee offers her friendship and more, if she can move beyond her guilt.
When a family reunion reveals Nan’s failing health, Cora Anne discovers how far Tennessee will go to protect her—and Edisto—from more desolation. Will Cora Anne choose between a life driven by guilt, or one washed clean by the tides of grace?
A four-star Romantic Times review, Still Waters has been called “a brilliant debut” with “exquisite writing and multi-faceted themes”. Best known for her popular columns in The Northeast Georgian and The Elberton Star, Brackett is also a blogger and teacher for writers conferences and homeschool programs. A North Georgia native raised in Elbert County, she now lives in Cleveland, Georgia. A mother of four, her home is always full of wet towels, lost library books, and strong coffee.
In addition to an online Facebook Launch Party, September 7, 2017 at 9 p.m., several local signings are planned. Friends and family are invited to celebrate the Still Waters release at a reception, Sunday, September 17, 2017 at the Community Hall of the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center. Brackett will also be signing on location at the Edisto Island Bookstore, October 21, 2017, 2-5 p.m.
Still Waters is available on Amazon as well as select local bookstores.
Follow on Facebook, Lindsey P. Brackett, Author or visit her website, www.lindseypbrackett.com for more information.
Award-winning writer Lindsey P. Brackett once taught middle grades literature, but now she writes her own works in the midst of motherhood. Her debut novel, Still Waters, influenced by her family ties to the South Carolina Lowcountry, is a story about the power of family and forgiveness. Called “a brilliant debut” with “exquisite writing,” Still Waters also received 4-stars from Romantic Times.
A blogger since 2010, she has published articles and short stories in a variety of print and online publications including Thriving Family, Country Extra, HomeLife,Northeast Georgia Living, Splickety Prime, Splickety Love, and Southern Writers Magazine Best Short Fiction 2015. Her popular column appears in local North Georgia newspapers weekly. Currently, Lindsey is a general editor with Firefly Southern Fiction, an imprint of LPC Books, and she freelances as an author mentor. Previously, Lindsey served as Editor of Web Content for the Splickety Publishing Group where she wrote and edited flash fiction.
A Georgia native, Lindsey makes her home—full of wet towels, lost library books, and strong coffee—at the foothills of Appalachia with her patient husband and their four rowdy children. Connect with her at www.lindseypbrackett.com or on Facebook: Lindsey P. Brackett, Instagram: @lindseypbrackett, or Twitter: @lindsbrac.
Do portals that move your character to another time and place work within modern storytelling? This is the question fantasy and sci-fi writers have been struggling with over the past several years.
Imagine this: You’re reading a book with a great hook, the characters have depth and relationship, and the plot moves at just the right pace. Then out of nowhere, the main character is transported to an entirely new world that needs to be saved. The previous one is forgotten and a new plot begins.
Would you continue reading? Many readers of fantasy and sci-fi complain that, although it has worked in the past, the “portal to a new world” genre is overdone. Here are a few reasons why.
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First off, the reader has no investment about what happens in the alternate world. Once you’ve established the main characters and the world around them, it can be jarring to expect the reader to jump into yet another world and begin caring about that one, too. Unless the jump between them is done with care, the reader can feel betrayed for having cared about the original world in the first place.
Also, there’s often not enough at risk. In many portal stories, the fantasy world is in peril, while the one left behind goes on without much thought or threat. The reader might be inclined to wonder why the main character doesn’t just leave the fantasy world to its own devices and go back to the safety of reality.
Another downside is when the reader realizes that without the portal, there would be no story at all. When the main character literally needs to leave reality to find adventure, the story can feel stale and overused. The portal is simply a mechanism to get a character from point A to point B so the “real” story can begin, which can reflect lazy writing.
So, how does a fantasy or sci-fi writer avoid the proverbial “portal trope?”
For starters, take a step back from your story and investigate whether it has a few key ingredients. Is your portal integral to the main plot? Is the portal woven within the threads of the story? How is the real world related or impacted by the alternate world?
Why does the portal appear at that specific spot, at that time, on that day? Who is able to access this portal and for how long? What price is there to be paid for using the portal? (There is always a price to be paid when using magic, otherwise your main character could use magic to fix the problem from page one.) Why must the main character travel to that alternate world, when he/she could just stay in the safety of reality?
Finally, if you take the portal out of the story, how will it affect the plot as a whole?
If you have solid answers to each of these questions—and you can make a strong case for the validity of that portal—then there is no reason a reader should walk away from your story. The reader should be so invested, that they don’t even consider it “another portal story.”
[bctt tweet=”The reader should be so invested, that they don’t even consider it “another portal story.”” username=””]
Do you include a portal within your magical world? Before you move forward with your work, take a few minutes to consider how you can find a balance between the real world and the alternate world. Doing so might keep your manuscript out of that “slush pile” and in the hands of an editor.
Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com
You’ve decided to take your writing from a hobby to a professional level. That’s great, but where do you start?
Here are five steps to help you begin your journey.
Learn:
Most careers require you to take continuing classes, writing is no different. Read books and follow blogs about writing. Interact with other writers as much as you can on social media. Take the courses they offer online or in person whenever possible. Look into classes at your local community college.
Remember to learn about your industry in addition to your craft. Things change in the publishing world often. The topics that agents, editors, and publishers are looking for this year may be different than last. Just as with your fellow writers, look for classes offered by editors, agents, and publishers, interact with them on social media and follow their websites.
Work on your platform:
Start building your platform sooner rather than later. Create a website, blog, and professional social media pages. Agents and editors don’t want to see what you plan to do; they want to see what you are doing.
Post at least once a day on Facebook and two to three times a day on sites like Instagram and Twitter. Focus your platform on giving to your readers. What do they want to see? Follow the 80/20 rule. 80% what they want to see and 20% about you and your writing.
Attend conferences:
Attending a conference can be an invaluable experience. You’ll get the chance to take great classes offered by experts in the field. You’ll also meet other writers. Being around people who think like you can be a great boost to your confidence. Being at a conference may seem intimidating at first. With all of those professional, published writers, all of those agents, editors, and publishers it’s a lot to take in. However, you will find that the majority of people are there to help you, to answer your questions, and to offer you support. Talk to as many different people as you can, you never know who you might meet. But also be sure to take the time to actually learn something about the people you meet.
Find a mentor:
Finding a mentor can be a huge boost to your writing journey. A mentor doesn’t have to be an award winning author, just someone who is more experienced than you, who can help guide and keep you on task. Someone to bounce ideas off and to support your dreams. Someone to pray for you and to listen when you are discouraged.
Write:
Start writing. I know this one sounds easy and obvious, but you’d be amazed at the excuses you can find not to write. Carve out some time every day to get yourself into a chair and writing. Get up early if you have to, go to bed late, write during your lunch break. Form a routine, make it a habit to write at the same time every day. Set a goal for yourself. How many words or pages are you going to write per day? Even if it’s only twenty minutes a day, make sure you are writing something every single day.
While writing does take a lot of learning and work, remember to have fun with it. Writing is most likely your passion so let the words flow.
Heather is a novelist who’s passion lies in showing teens and young adults that they can trust in God’s plan for their lives even through their darkest times.
Welcome, Ace. Can you share a little about your recent book –
The Cat’s Eye came out in August and it is the first full-length novel from theIn The President’s Service series. Since Helen Meeker’s debut in The Yellow Packard, I have written and Elk Lake has released twelve short novels outlining her adventures during World War II, this book, because of its length and complicated plot, really expands the lead’s character as it combines action/adventure with a complicated whodunit and a touch of love. I’ll share the back cover blurb with you to give you a bit of a feel for this one…
The Cat’s Eye Has It All—
A Kidnapped Child, a Murdered Japanese Woman, A Secret Nazi Project
Helen Meeker is immersed in a perverse game where lives are cheap, faith is in short supply, death is a constant companion and the action never stops. A kidnapped Norwegian child, a murdered Japanese-American woman, and a secret Nazi project hidden inside a mountain build into a breathless adventure that literally spans the globe. The Cat’s Eye, Ace Collins’s first full-length novel since The Yellow Packard, finds Helen Meeker challenged to solve the perfect crime in Chicago as well as to go behind enemy lines to destroy a German super weapon. With the help of her mysterious partner Teresa Bryant and a host of colorful teammates, Meeker confronts a hitman, a gambler, a top Nazi leader, and SS officers and escapes bomb blasts, gunfire, and lethal double agents. Along the way, she employs all her athletic skills, instincts, and intelligence when confronting the brightest mind in all of Germany and the most desperate industrialist in the United States.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I was writing when I was in third grade, so storytelling is a natural part of who I am. In a very real sense, I’m just doing what my grandparents used to do as they entertained me with their stories on the front porch of their Arkansas home.
Each of my books has a theme and a lesson. In general, my novels follow the adventures of reluctant heroes — those who didn’t want to be placed in a heroic position but find themselves there in spite of their hesitancy. I think the goal of any book, mine or others, has to be to entertain the reader. Without that facet then no one is going ever learn the lessons you have placed in your storyline.
How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?
I actually have been writing for over three decades professionally. I quit a job in public relations when I got my first contract. Thanks to a friend in the entertainment business that opportunity just came my way. It took a few years to get that second contract though so for years I substitute taught in schools and did other odd jobs as well. Also wrote about 2,000 magazine features during the lean years.
How long does it take you to write a book?
My nonfiction books can take as long as six months. There is so much research that must be done in nonfiction. I can write, edit and rewrite a full-length novel in less than three months.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I am a night person so I am most creative later in the day. Thus, the grunt work happens before noon. I tend to write in the afternoon and early evening and edit and rewrite in the mornings.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I often get book ideas in church so I have a lot of church bulletins with quick novel outlines scribbled on them.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
No doubt it was winning The Christy for The Color of Justice. I was very proud of that book and its message and it thrilled me that others noticed as well. In nonfiction, it has been the success of all my Christmas books beginning with The Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Hitting #3 on the overall Amazon sales list was something I never expected.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
I’m such an upbeat person, I don’t think I have one. Sure I’ve had bad reviews, but that is a matter of taste, not everyone is going to like what I create, but I really don’t recall any dark moments even when I was struggling early in my career.
Which of your books is your favorite?
I mentioned The Color Justice earlier, and it tops my personal charts, but I do love writing the In The President’s Service series. To take a character and expand her over the course of now more than 700,000 words has been both a major challenge and a joy! It is every author’s dream to create a character you can live with for a long time.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Let’s go way back to Mark Twain. Of modern authors, I like Clive Cussler’s early stuff. I also love detective novels from the 30s and 40s by Raymond Chandler and others. Most of what I read is historical or biographical.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened to?
I get to give this advice when I talk to college students each semester. I tell them this…if you truly believe in an idea never give up on it. My bestselling book was rejected twenty-seven times over a decade before finding a home. Also, writing is a team sport; you are only as good as the editors and marketing folks who are a part of your team. So the success you have is because of them as much if not more than it is because of your work.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
As I mentioned earlier, my bestselling book was rejected twenty-seven times over a decade. I still get rejected all the time. But if you believe in what you are writing you have to keep plugging. So I never give up on something I think has potential.
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
I like the characters that are a part of my In The President’s Service series because I have had a chance to get to really know them over fourteen books. That makes them very real to me. There was a scene in The Color of Justice where an older African-American maid, Hattie, talks about prejudice and mentions sneaking a drink from a “white only” water fountains. Her remarks and insight during that narrative blew me away. Yes, sometimes the characters write the words for you!
Where do you get your ideas?
In truth, a single phrase can lead to a whole novel as I turn it over in my mind.
Also, a lot of my ideas come from just observing life, but I also listen to a great deal of classic radio drama from the 30s and 40s. The writing style used in those programs is very similar to the rhythm and pacing I employ in my books.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Thinking their work is art and shouldn’t be altered by anyone else. We need editors to point out our holes. So writers must listen to the points of views of others and work with them in order to have a final polished product.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
This is a question I am asked a great deal and my answer is always the same, find a place to get your work published…even if it is initially for free. You have to have a body of work to prove you can tell a good story, so look for places to get bylines.
Amazon: The Cat’s Eye
Ace Collins. Citing his Arkansas heritage, Christy award winner Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. In that capacity, Collins has authored more than eighty books for 25 different publishers that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture, and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a television special and been featured on every network morning TV show.
Collins’ hobbies include sports, restoring classic cars, Wurlitzer jukeboxes and running. He is married to, Dr. Kathy Collins, the Chair of the Department of Education at Ouachita Baptist University. The couple lives in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and has two grown sons
If your lifelong dream is to write Bible studies, craft devotional guides, or create fiction for today’s Christian woman, you may not ask this question. On the other hand, if you mainly write about cat litter, bed sheets, and communication software, it might come up every now and then.
Those last three topics probably weren’t what you had in mind when you breathlessly announced at your Bible study, “God is calling me to be … (dramatic pause) … a writer.” You probably imagined yourself crafting prose that would uplift souls, uproot injustice, and upgrade your credit rating. Copywriting, if you’re good at it, can do the last bit but not the first two.
[bctt tweet=”For copywriters, the art and science of writing aren’t about ripping open the layers that guard your soul ” username=””]
For copywriters, the art and science of writing aren’t about ripping open the layers that guard your soul or introducing people to life-changing esoteric truths. It’s about moving products and selling services in order to make money for the people who hire you to write.
Let’s face the ugly truth, y’all. We’re hacks. (I’m reminded of Hyacinth Bucket saying to a journalist, “If I were the victim of gross indecency, you would have been round here quicker than a split infinitive. …Illiterate hack.”)
Recognizing that we’re hacks leads us back to the original question: Why am I writing this anyway? When translated from the original languages, that question means: Is my work worth anything to the world?
And so we come to the heart of the matter—Does my work matter? Do I matter?
You know I’m not going to say No, you don’t matter. Why don’t you give up trying to write, you silly twit, and take up a real hobby? So at this point, you can skip to the end, leave a glowing comment, and open the refrigerator to see what’s landed inside it in the last 30 minutes. I’d rather you stuck with me, though. There’s a particular reason copywriting matters.
[bctt tweet=”Copywriting starts with a problem. It’s not the obvious problem.” username=””]
Take my cat litter box client for instance. What’s the problem they solve? Is it just that they keep people from seeing and smelling cat waste by containing it in an elegant box? At one level, yes. But let’s probe more deeply into the cat litter. (Wear a mask.)
What problem do the cats themselves solve?
Our average customer is a single apartment-dwelling woman in her thirties who is living in a major urban area. Why does she have a cat? Probably because she’s lonely. The cat is company at night. He’s someone who cares if she comes home. He depends on her. Needs her. Loves her.
Cats solve loneliness. We help our clients take care of their furry problem-solvers in ways they can feel good about. My client isn’t just solving the problem of cat stink. They’re also helping their customers take care of the creature that alleviates loneliness and isolation in a profound way.
In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott writes, “If your wife locks you out of the house, you don’t have a problem with your door.”
[bctt tweet=”Effective solutions start with correctly identifying the problem.” username=””]
Effective solutions start with correctly identifying the problem. What problem does your client’s product or service solve? What basic human pain does it help alleviate? Maybe they’re not selling cancer drugs, but they’re selling something that makes someone’s life better. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in business.
You’re writing matters because your client’s products matter to someone, and they probably matter on a more deeply emotional plane that you think. That’s why copywriting counts. That’s why you’re doing this.
I think you and I would benefit from a broader vision of what’s important. Of course, devotional or fiction writing that touches the soul is important. But writing that helps someone take better care of the cat that’s alleviating their loneliness matters, too.
It’s a myth that the only writers who help people are those who write the Biblical novels, the devotions, the Bible studies, and the marriage helps. The writers who help people are the ones who pay attention to other people’s needs. Those are the copywriters.
[bctt tweet=”The writers who help people are the ones who pay attention to other people’s needs. Those are the copywriters.” username=””]
Penelope Trunk says, “Your idea … is generally a wish that your own passion is a gift to other people. But ironically, most (people trying to do good) are not paying attention to other people at all. And most entrepreneurs who are raking in money are paying very careful attention to what helps other people.”
Are you paying attention to other people’s pain? If so, your words can help people make choices that alleviate that pain is positive ways. And people will pay you for that.
Copywriting, like all writing, counts not because it’s deemed “beautiful” by snobby critics or “bestselling” by relieved publishers. It counts because it helps change people’s lives.
Why do you write sales copy? Tell us in the comments.
Holland Webb: I love telling the stories that people put down so they go take action. I’m an advertising copywriter by day, an aspiring novelist by night, a parent, a dog-lover, a prison volunteer and a follower of Jesus.
Being a teenager is hard. Especially a teenager striving to be a published author. It’s stressful finding time to write. When I’m stressed, I talk myself through the anxiety – aloud. After these steps to balancing school and writing, I sound much less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.
I use the following steps to balance school and writing, I sound less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.
Pray. Every morning I pray. I ask God for time to write and if I should write for a career. I ask Him to infuse my words with His power and sneak ideas into the work. Matthew 7:7-8 says when we ask we will receive. God will give you time to write if you ask and if it’s in His will.
Prioritize. God comes first and school comes before your work-in-progress. However, decide what writing means to you. Is it something to do for fun? To make a career out of?Is it worth the time and effort you put in? I make writing a priority by reassessing what it means to me or by turning it into an extra credit opportunity with my teacher’s permission. [bctt tweet=”Turn writing into an extra credit opportunity” username=””]
Schedule Wisely. We don’t have all day to write, so we must manage our time carefully. Throughout the day, I create a list of tasks I must complete and use it to plan my free time during and after school. Next, I carve writing sessions from that schedule. I place sessions within study halls and lunches or at home if I use those times to do homework. Your sessions can be short, maybe ten to fifteen minutes, but they help. Word sprints are a great way to utilize time. Write as fast as you can without stopping. Brainstorm on the bus, between classes, in bed at night, or during class when you’re bored out of your mind. When life gets hard, think about your story instead.
Sacrifice. Students must choose between hanging with friends and writing. I feel like a recluse because I often choose to be with my work-in-progress rather than my friends at the movie theater. But when I’m too stressed or need family time, I enjoy being with the people I love. Decide when to cancel or cut plans short. If you feel social but need to write, find some book-loving buddies and go to a library or a cafe with them to write.
Give Yourself Grace. Being a student is hard. People expect perfection of us and we expect it of ourselves. Perfection is impossible. If you have too much homework or need downtime, don’t beat yourself up for missing a writing session. Writing is important, but not as important as your well-being. If it overwhelms you, take a break.
After praying, prioritizing, scheduling, deciding when to sacrifice, and giving myself grace, I make time to write during the school year. With the help of God and these steps, you can, too.
How do you balance school and writing? If you don’t know if God wants you to write for a career, send me a prayer request!
Caroline Hadley writes young adult Christian speculative fiction to help other teens feel God’s love in a meaningful way. She has won a Silver Key and a national Gold Key for her short stories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Currently, she is adapting one of those stories into a novel. She is involved in a teen writing group at her local library and is working for her high school literary magazine. She enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reading, and being with her family. If you want to connect with her and chat, visit her blog, jarsofwords.blogspot.com.
A Kill fee? Is that legal? What is a nut graf anyway? Is sounds like a surgical term or carpenter’s tool.
I need to learn magazine article jargon before I get myself in trouble.
Here are thirty important terms that we can learn together as we continue our journey into magazine article writing.
Advertorial: a newspaper or magazine advertisement in the form of editorial content. The term is a blend of the words “advertisement” and “editorial.”
Byline: a printed line of text accompanying a news story, article, or the like, giving the author’s name.
Charticle: A graphic image that includes information.
Clip: Examples of your work. Place them in your portfolio.
Consumer publication: These are the magazines and newspapers sold to the public.
Copywriting: Writing business and promotional copy for clients.
Creative brief: A short document that provides the creative team with an overview and important points to consider in the development of an advertising campaign.
Custom publication: This is created specifically for a company.
Dek: The second half of a headline, which often runs in italics just below the headline in newspapers.
Deliverable: This is the final project you will be providing.
Dummy copy: A representation of the final copy in which a different text is substituted for the final text. The different text is called Lorem ipsum and is there just for layout purposes.
FOB: Front of the book pieces. These short articles and blurbs usually appear in the front of a magazine.
FPO: For position only. This abbreviation is used when artwork or other materials are inserted as placeholders in an article or brochure to give all stakeholders a general idea of how the final piece will lay out.
Hed: An abbreviation for the headline.
Infographic: Information graphics is a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information.
Kicker: The conclusion of an article designed to leave the reader with something to think on.
“Kill” fee: A negotiated payment the writer gets if the assigned article is canceled.
Lede: The lede, or lead, is an abbreviation for the opening sentences of your article.
Letter of introduction (LOI): This is a pitch letter or email to a potential client informing them of your talents.
Native ads: These are the online version of advertorials.
Nut graf: The paragraph that goes from the lede into the body of the article. The nut graf summarizes the article to entice readers to keep reading. You may also see “graf” used as an abbreviation for a paragraph.
Op-Ed: An opinion or editorial piece, in which the writer states their point of view on an issue. Letters to the editor are a prime example.
My daughter-in-law is a first-time mom to my newest grandchild. Dylan is four months old and, of course, absolutely beautiful in all 59 shades of pink that she wears. About a month ago her Mommy started reading to Dylan. Both of them enjoy the experience immensely. Dylan is rapt at the sound of Mommy’s voice. And Mommy is fascinated that little board books and picture books can carry so much truth and drive it straight into her own heart.
That’s why I write books for young children. When done well THEY ARE POWERFUL.
Author Nancy Lamb explains one of the reasons for this power in her masterful book The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. Page 19.
“Although first books are generally simple, there are several qualities that elevate the best of them to classics, including the fact that the most notable books deal with universal themes. Loss, fear, love, anxiety, anger, loneliness, joy, curiosity, greed, humor. All the things that make us laugh and cry—the things that mark us as human. The more of these attributes you use in one book, the more effective that book will be.”
Theme can be stated as one or two words that tell you what your book is about. What is the succinctly stated thing that your reader should take away from your book?
Another way to think of it is: what does your main character learn, or how does she change in the process of the story? In one or two words. That’s the theme.
The most memorable children’s (and YA) books revolve around one or more universal themes. That is, themes that are common to most readers in your target audience.
Try these 31 themes on for size
Family
School
Parents
Grandparents
Siblings
Friendship
Holidays
Imagination
Honesty
Faith
Generosity
Prejudice
Growing up
Compassion
Equality
Death
Fairness
Persistence
Loneliness
Bravery/Courage
Cooperation
Self-control
Kindness
Hope
Determination
Acceptance
Hard work
Peace
Differences
Loyalty
Taking a stand
Of course, there are more than 31 universal themes. This list is just to get you thinking
Now think about your own manuscripts: stories, nonfiction (Yep. Nonfiction can be about more than animals or electricity!), novels, picture books, mid-grades, chapter books. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. Think about your story and your characters. What happens to them? How do they change? Do one or two of these 31 words pop to the center of your brain?
Does that word or two (Maybe you can fudge and use three.) tell me what your story is REALLY about under the surface? A theme has to be there—swimming beneath the surface of your story—if you expect to make an impact on your readers.
And if you expect to see your book on shelves for a long time to come.
As a second exercise list some of your favorite children’s books. Now, as Pooh says, “Think. Think. Think.”
Are your favorite books possibly about any of the words listed above? When you remember your favorites do you automatically start thinking about anything on our List of 31?
You shouldn’t need (or want) to tell your reader anywhere in your story what the theme is. That doesn’t work. Nope. Kids will put that book down and search for another one. In great, lasting books most readers are able to figure out for themselves what the story is about; what the main character figured out as he or she experienced the events of that story. Why? Because you have skillfully told your tale and allowed the truth of your theme to rise to the surface all by itself.
Yes-doggies! Don’t we want our young readers to experience our stories and learn something from them right alongside our main characters?
Don’t we want our readers to LIVE that story with the protagonist? If your book does that then readers are going to dig through its pages again and again. And that book will be yet another tool to mold them into the people they are becoming.
And that’s why we write our stories in the first place. Isn’t it?
As a pre-teen, Jean Hall dreamed of being an architect or an interior decorator. As a high school student, she dreamed of being anything BUT a teacher. As a college student, she dreamed of being a vocalist. As an “over-fifty” woman she dreamed of writing stories for children. But, as life unfolded it seemed that none of those dreams would come true.
But,
Jean spent twenty-six years teaching children and teens–and loving it!.Then twenty more years teaching women’s Bible studies. She never designed a house, but she lived in, and decorated on a shoestring, more than a dozen houses. She never performed before thousands, nor recorded any music. But she sang hundreds of times leading people in praise to the LORD. Now, she is working hard and trusting God to lead her down the road to traditional publication.
Sometimes our dreams come true in ways we couldn’t imagine.
It is Jean’s daily prayer that The Christ within her shines through the cracks and broken places of her dreams and that Christ shines through the things she writes to uplift, encourage and inspire others.
My dream as a kid was to become an elementary teacher and write books for kids. In high school, I had a job at our local public library in the children’s department. It was a great experience for my future careers. I loved processing the new books and being the first to read them. I loved matching kids to the perfect books. I loved seeing the clever ways authors used their words to create a story that touched the heart or sparked an idea.
After college, I taught first grade. Hands-down, my favorite part of the day was read- aloud time. Turning kids on to books, getting a giggle, or seeing the light bulbs turn on is an amazing opportunity. My chance to be an even bigger part of this magic became a reality when I was awarded a Teacher Creativity Fellowship to pursue a passion of my choice. It wasn’t hard to choose. I decided to use my fellowship to learn all about the children’s book industry and try my hand at writing books. (This opportunity led to the publication of six books so far.)
[bctt tweet=”The first thing I learned, there are a lot of things to learn! ” username=””]As much as I hoped for a short cut or some insider secret, there weren’t any. However, there are a lot of things you can do to get on the right path towards publication. There are so many pieces to this giant puzzle of how to become a published author. For starters, you need to know a lot about the genre you are writing, you need to know the proper way to submit your manuscripts, the roles of the different people in the industry, how to sharpen your craft, your publication options, and your market.
Just as with any new skill or hobby, you have to do your research. I started out by attending conferences, taking online classes, and finding writers and organizations. There is a wonderful group called the SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I joined this organization and began attending their regional and national conferences. With each conference, I learned a few more pieces of the puzzle. There are also many online resources, from blogs to classes that you can take.
Research also includes reading books in your genre. If you want to write humorous picture books, you should be reading any Mo Willems or Jon Scieszka book you can get your hands on. If you want to write nonfiction picture books, you need to read those. Reading in your genre helps you get a feel for the formats, styles, lengths, and content these books possess.
When you get ideas for stories, be sure to write them down. It could be a clever title, a fun character, or a whole story plot. Don’t rely on your memory. Make time to write. It would be hypocritical for me to say write every day, because I have a hard time finding the time to do this, but do make time each week to write something.
Once you have a story that has been through several drafts, seek out a critique group or partner. Having someone else read your story is powerful. When the story comes from your own head, it’s hard to separate your own thoughts from what is actually on the page.[bctt tweet=” Fresh eyes will be able to find spots that need polished or clarified.” username=””] Exchange stories with people in your group. Reading the work of others also helps you become better, as you learn new styles and approaches.
You need to know your market. Find out who publishes books like your story. You can also purchase a Children’s Writing Market Guide to find out about current publishing houses and the types of submissions they are taking. In some cases, you have to have an agent in order to send them something, but there are many houses that will accept un-agented material.
Since we are focusing on picture books, you need to know that if you are not an illustrator, you can still be the author of a picture book. In many publishing houses, the publisher will seek out an illustrator that matches the style of your book. Some publishers have illustrators on staff, some pay an artist a flat fee for hire, and some illustrators will share the royalty split with you when the book comes out. If you are an illustrator, then you have an advantage over those of us who are not. [bctt tweet=”Publishers love to work with authors that can also illustrate their own work!” username=””]
I’m an elementary teacher and children’s book author. As the Regional Advisor for the Indiana Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I attend and plan many writing conferences. I’m also on the board of directors for the Indiana State Reading Association and the high ability coordinator for my school system for K-5 grade students. I share my home with my husband, Matt, our two daughters, Emily and Madison, and dog, two cats, and a gecko. I enjoy presenting, teaching, writing, traveling, and running very early in the mornings.
Welcome, Erica, please tell us about your most Recent Book
The Lost Generation is my debut novel. I wrote it several years ago, before I ever dreamed it would be published. It’s based during World War One about three couples from three different countries who come together because of a war that took the lives of nearly an entire generation of men and women. Through the trials and horrors, these three couples experience love and courage while witnessing loss on a monumental scale.
Why do you write what you do?
It’s always been my desire to write stories that reach deep into another person’s heart. I hope that I’ve accomplished that with The Lost Generation and will continue to do so with my future works. I decided a long time ago that I didn’t want to be the kind of writer who tiptoed around the harder issues and circumstances in life, but rather one who faced them head-on to give my readers a realistic experience. Mostly, I write what I would want to read. Stories that are fiction, but also ring true according to the world we live in. Writing Historical Fiction is certainly one way to do that successfully, but I’ve always said I have no limits when it comes to genre. I do my very best to explore all genres, but I’d say my best are Historical and Contemporary Fiction.
[bctt tweet=” I decided a long time ago that I didn’t want to be the kind of writer who tiptoed around the harder issues and circumstances in life,” username=”@EricaHogan316 “]
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on too many things right now! I have the tendency to write a few stories at the same time, ranging anywhere from a Contemporary series, to another book based during World War One. I also have a fantasy series that’s in the works. Scheduling myself is difficult, but normally I eventually break through my need for more than one story and commit myself fully to one project.
How does your work differ from other work in its genre?
I’d like to think The Lost Generation isn’t a typical story. I’ve read many Historical Fiction novels before and a lot of them have one main focus. Either it’s a romance or it’s action. I’d like to think The Lost Generation is both, while also reaching into our hearts to the real message. It’s not only about what my characters go through; their lives, love, and faith. It’s also about what they witness. What they see changes them forever and this makes my book a tribute to the men and women who fought and died during World War One.
How does your writing process work?
It’s a long process and it’s not easy! I usually start with my characters. I need to know their names, personalities, and looks before I begin. This helps me shape the kind of story it’s going to be. Then I find a title—I’m a little quirky that way. I can’t start without a title. Once I have a title that I’m pleased with (even if I’m not sure I’ll keep it) I write a synopsis of the book so I have a basic idea of how I want it to go. Usually, before I start writing, I know how my story is going to begin and end. It’s the in-between that I struggle with most. Filling the middle of a book can be very frustrating, but my characters are good at surprising me and taking me in directions I never expected. That’s the best part of the writing process. I surprise myself so often and I find myself having so much fun with these characters who have sprung directly from my heart and imagination onto the page.
Erica Marie Hogan was born in New York but now calls Texas home. She has three cats and two dogs, was homeschooled, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and when she’s not writing, she’s reading. Erica can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, along with her blog once a month, By the Book: Diary of a Bookaholic. The Lost Generation is Erica’s debut novel.
Fans who love Jesus and fantastic fiction will have a new and free guide when Lorehaven releases its first free magazine later this year.
Publisher Ben Wolf, of Splickety Publishing Group, and editor-in-chief E. Stephen Burnett, of SpeculativeFaith.com, announced Lorehaven at the fifth annual Realm Makers conference for Christian fantasy novelists in Reno, Nevada. More than 260 guests welcomed the news.
Lorehaven will build on this audience, and those of Splickety and Speculative Faith, to reach thousands of new readers, sparking interest in book clubs for Christian fantastic novels.
“Nothing like this has ever been done before, but we all know dozens of churchgoing people who go watch Marvel, DC, and other related movies,” Wolf said. “Most Christians don’t realize the wealth of fantastic speculative fiction written by Christians that is out there. Lorehaven seeks to find those people and to provide them with easy access to those stories.”
[bctt tweet=”Most Christians don’t realize the wealth of fantastic speculative fiction written by Christians ” username=”@realmakers @splickety @lorehaven”]
Many people may associate Christian fiction with historical, romantic, or Amish genres. But as this traditional readership dwindles and Christian bookstores close, Lorehaven’s founders join creative professionals in anticipating Christian readers’ higher demand for fantastic fiction.
Younger Christian readers want both biblical truth and fantastic imagination, Burnett said.
“Our native language is the fantastic: crossing between natural and supernatural realities,” Burnett said. “The Bible shines with the epic gospel narrative of Jesus Christ, who defeats the dragon of sin and saves his enemies to become heroes under him. That’s why Christians love fantasy wherever they find it, such as in superhero films and television series.”
“Still, Christians as a unique interest group can worship God and connect with other believers by enjoying and sharing our own fantastic stories—not just the classics from C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, but newer novels from talented Christian creators,” Burnett said.
Lorehaven will help fantasy fans of all ages find these new authors through the magazine’s flash novel reviews, interviews, and news. Wolf said authors and fiction pros will share their stories, write about how to grow as a Christian “fanservant,” and support Lorehaven with paid ads.
“Our long-term goal for Lorehaven is to use it as a vehicle to get Christian people interested and talking about this growing genre of speculative fiction,” Wolf said. “In time, we’d like to be able to send print copies to churches and develop a network of book clubs nationwide that are dedicated to reading and discussing speculative fiction written by and for Christian readers.”
[bctt tweet=”Lorehaven will offer both original and paid content to readers.” username=””]
About Lorehaven: Lorehaven helps Christian fans find biblical truth in fantastic stories. Book clubs, free webzines, and a web-based community offer flash reviews, articles, and news about Christian fantasy, science fiction, and other speculative novels. Lorehaven launches autumn 2017. Visit Lorehaven.com.
About Splickety: Splickety Publishing Group publishes three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Havok, for speculative flash fiction, Spark, for romance flash fiction, and Splickety Magazine, for young adult flash fiction. They routinely feature stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. Visit Splickety.com.
About Speculative Faith: Since 2006, this community of fans and writers have raised awareness of Christian-made speculative novels, with reviews, a library of available titles, and articles from regular writers and guest voices from across the Christian fantastic-story community. Visit SpeculativeFaith.com.
Recently a Morgan James author and I were talking about writing for magazines. She admitted that she had tried several times but been rejected. From my years of writing for publications, I’ve learned some difference makers when you pitch a magazine editor to write for their publication.
One of the keys is focus: Is your pitch or article or idea focused on the reader of the particular publication? When you write for publication, the editor is actively looking for articles which meet the needs of his particular readers. Every publication has a distinct audience. Do you know this audience and are you thinking about them when you write your pitch or article? This audience focus is important.
A second key would be following the submission guidelines for the publication. Many of these guidelines are available online. Do a Google search, locate the guidelines, then read them and make sure your pitch is a solid fit for the publication—before you send it. I know following the guidelines sounds obvious but you would be shocked at the number of authors who ignore them. These authors think, “I’ll go ahead and pitch a 2,000 word article even though the guidelines say they only take articles up to 1,500 words. The editor can cut out those extra words. That’s what editors do.”
See the fallacy of such thinking? You are asking the editor to reject your work because you did not follow the guidelines. These editors know their audience and publication and are looking for something specific from potential writers. If you deliver what they are requesting, then it will be more likely to be considered (and possibly accepted).
Another key to success is reading the publication. Do you read this magazine? If not, read the articles online or get several issues and devour them. Do they publish service articles? Do they print how-to articles? Do they use personal experience stories? Do they use personality profiles? There are many different types of articles and writers need to do their analytical research to see what the magazine is publishing. Also look at who is writing the articles? Did someone on the magazine staff write the article? Or did a freelance writer produce it? Notice the names in the magazine masthead. These names are often staff writers. What percentage of the articles are staff and what percentage is freelance? As the number of freelance articles increase in the magazine, your possibilities are increased for acceptance and publication.
The final key is the format of your submission. Magazine editors prefer to receive double-spaced manuscripts in the New Times Roman font. Yes most computers will default to Arial but that is not used within the magazine community. Also make sure the top of your submission includes your name, mailing address, phone and word count for the article. Does the end of your article include a brief bio (normally two sentences)?
Each of these elements are important decision making elements for the editor who is reading your submission. As a writer, you can help yourself from getting rejected through making sure each element in your submission is attractive to that editor.
Perseverance and persistent pitching to magazines is important for your success. The editor knows what they need for their publication yet they are actively looking for solid writers who can meet their needs. It may take persistent pitching for you to find some success with publications. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. You can do it if you follow the guidelines and deliver what the editor needs.
