Author: Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3

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.

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Tour

Blog Tour-Andy Lee

andylee

Most Recent Book:

My most recent book is A Mary Like Me: Flawed yet Called (Leafwood, 2016). It’s a book written to encourage women to step out into their calling whether to a neighbor or a nation. It’s written to help us find camaraderie with the biblical women who we’ve lifted to saintly status. The truth is they needed a Savior as much as we do. Their name, Mary, means bitter, defiant, and rebellious, and Scripture reveals these characteristics, yet one gave birth to the Son of God, another sat at His feet as a disciple, and the third proclaimed the risen Christ. Readers meet the Marys as they have never met them before and discover that they have much more in common with them than they thought. Comparison paralyzes us, but camaraderie inspires, especially connection with our less than perfect hearts. That bond gives us wings to fly.

I have to tell you that three months before A Mary Like Me was released, The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study was published by AMG. I had two books published within three months by two different publishers. Miracles do happen.

Why I write what I write:

I am a Bible nerd, and it’s my goal to turn everyone into Bible nerds. At least, that’s what my husband tells me. I love to take my readers into the biblical culture and language to help them discover fresh meaning to stale passages. It’s our humanity that connects us with the biblical characters. When we find that connection, the Bible doesn’t seem so outdated and irrelevant. I also write and teach with a Jewish perspective in mind, and I’m always studying and researching to do that. Salvation did come from the Jews as Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4: 22. We’ve lost so much meaning by not incorporating the Jewish perspective.

My Current project:

I recently submitted a proposal for a devotional called Bite of Bread: Feed Your Soul. Each day provides one verse, a sidebar with a word study that shows the different meanings of Hebrew or Greek key words in that verse. We forget that the Bible wasn’t written in English, and we don’t consider that we often lose meaning when going from one language to another. When you study the Bible digging into the ancient words it breathes. A short devotional gives fresh perspective of the verse and the reader is given a thought for the day . . . something to chew on that will feed his spirit throughout the day.
How is my work different?

That’s a tough question. I’m authentic, but I think more and more writers—especially women authors are becoming more real all the time. All of my writing incorporates one Hebrew or Greek word to bring the scripture to life, but other writers do this too. So, as I pondered this very hard question, I realized that I needed someone else to answer it for me—someone who has read my books. This is what another author has said about my writing, “Andy Lee’s words will affect you, but her heart will stay with you for a long, long time.” ~Eva Marie Everson. So . . . maybe its my heart in my writing?
My writing process:

I pray first asking the Lord to give me the topic. Many times a scene will flash in my mind, and then sometimes, but not always, a first sentence wafts between my ears, and I know how to start. But there are days when I don’t have anything in mind, so I start typing and then go back later to take out the first two paragraphs. I write better if I walk every day and spend some time outside. And I also feel better about my writing and the work day if I get some house chores accomplished too. Finally, I try to give myself enough margin from the deadline that I can set the piece aside and let it breathe, at least overnight, preferably two or three days, before I submit it. This doesn’t happen with my blog posts. I usually write them on the day I post them!

amarylikeme

https://www.amazon.com/Andy-Lee/e/B014HHXA3A/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 Andy Lee is a blogger, speaker, Bible teacher, and author. She’s also a mom to three grown kids, wife to a retired soldier, and a recovering people pleaser. She manages the blog for Florida’s Christian Writers Conference and enjoys teaching at FCWC. This year she will be teaching Hermeneutics for Writers and blogging workshops. Visit Andy at wordsbyandylee.com to experience life inside the Bible and a dose of Daily Grace.

Categories
Guest post archive

Set Your Prisoners Free-A J Benson

 

“Your playing small does not serve the world.” ~Marianne Williamson

As a newly published author, I know how hard it can be to get the encouragement and advice you need to finish your work and get it published. It’s not for lack of advice, but from the overwhelming amount! In the course of my journey, every where I turned, people gave me advice on what to try. Build a platform. Don’t worry about it. Write content for money. Write novels for love. Get your book published through an agent. It’s easy to self-publish.

So, how do you know what advice to take?

Let me tell you a little about my experience. I started a novel in 2015 without knowing a thing about writing a novel. I learned a lot by looking at story arcs on the Internet. It is still in the works after 18 months, because I have discovered that I LOVE world building. (I want a backstory for every character, even if that never makes it into the novel.) At the same time, I looked into content freelancing, and short story sales because I want to eventually earn a living writing. Then, I met another author, Heather Sutherlin, and we decided to work on a fantasy-themed devotional. I took classes on traditional publishing, and worked with a lot of indie authors, too. I tried to get Quest for the King published through traditional channels. Then we decided to self-publish, because we realized it has a niche market and is unlikely to interest agents looking for a large bottom-line. (The book is slowly getting some attention, now, and, as a new author, I am happy with that.) I learned a lot about both types of publishing in the process of getting Quest for the King on the streets. However, whatever path an author takes, there’s a lot of minutiae to be managed: from writing a back cover blurb to filling out exactly what an agent wants or converting a Word doc to a .mobi or ePub.

Let me let you in on a secret, though. While there’s much to learn and even more advice on how best to learn it, most authors just need to hear this truth: The world needs YOUR story.

[bctt tweet=”Stories are caged like prisoners in our minds. The only way they can get out is for us to put them on paper.” username=”@ajbenso”]

Which prisoner gets freed first? What does a writer do after it’s on paper? Many of us need help in working through these questions. So, that brings me back to advice. The best advice you can get is from yourself. While each person’s exerience is unique, I try to help other authors ask themselves the right questions. What steps you take (for example: content freelancing or novel writing) depends on your goals. I am happy to offer support and encouragement and help other writers figure out which path is right for them.  Brainstorming on a new story can be invaluable. So, can creating a framework with a specific destination in mind. I also help authors with the steps along the way. I beta read (short stories or individual chapters) in the YA fantasy genre and have assisted with flash fiction editing for English as a Second Language authors. If I can help you on your journey, don’t hesitate to reach out.

You are talented and dedicated. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Let’s figure out where you want to go with your writing and plan the path. Your greatness awaits. Dream BIG! The world needs to hear your story.

Then, set your prisoners free.

ajbenson

AJ Benson is a debut author with the publication of Quest for the King. She has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University and has been writing and editing as an analyst for over 20 years. She is currently a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is active in both her church and her sons’ Boy Scout troop.

AJ reads non-fiction books on a range of topics to include devotionals and health-related books. She also enjoys the whimsy of young adult fantasy, the depth of myth and lore, and the excitement of magic. She loves the epic struggle between good and evil.

AJ lives in Maryland with her two sons, three dogs and two cats.

AJ’s author site is http://AJBensonAuthor.com, and she can be reached at AJBensonAuthor@gmail.com. Her publishing house and shoppe, The Quill’s Lair, which focuses on mystical, magical, and mindful words and wares, can be browsed at http://TheQuillsLair.com.

 

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Uncategorized

Pitch Your Magazine Ideas with a Query

 

The bulk of my magazine writing is done on assignment. How do you get an assignment? Which magazines do you read on a consistent basis? Your familiarity with these publications and the types of articles that they publish, gives you some needed background.

Pull out the magazines that come into your home.

Organize them with several months from the same publication. Then study the contents. What types of articles do they publish? How-to articles? Personal Experience? For example, at Decision almost every article is a first-person, personal experience story. If you send them a how-to article which is not written in the first person, you are asking for rejection. Or if you write a story about someone else in the third-person, you will again invite rejection.

After you have studied the publications, then write the publication for their writers guidelines. Almost every magazine has guidelines for their author. Write a simple letter asking for guidelines and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the response. You can find the address for the publication usually on the masthead of the magazine under editorial offices. Or use The Christian Writers Market Guide by Jerry B. Jenkins. This guide is a critical tool if you are going to write for the Christian marketplace. After reading through the guidelines, you will have some additional information. Does the publication accept query letters or prefer full manuscripts? Some magazines have a query only system. This means that you have to write a query letter and get a letter of request from the editor, before sending the full manuscript. Other publications like Decision do not look at query letters but only completed manuscripts.

What’s a query letter? Entire books have been written on this topic and one of the best is Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Collier Cool (Writer’s Digest Books). A query is a single-page letter which sells your story idea. It has a four paragraph formula. The first paragraph is a creative beginning for your article. You don’t write the entire article–only the first paragraph which captures the reader’s interest. The purpose of this first paragraph is simply to capture the editor’s attention. I won’t walk you through the day of an editor but since I’ve been one for years, I know they are involved in a multitude of tasks. For editors to read query letters, it is often done at the end of the day, late at night or in a car pool on the way home. It must be interesting.

The second paragraph includes the main points of how you will approach the article. The third paragraph gives your personal qualifications for this topic and your writing credits (if any). It basically answers the question, why should you of all the writers get this assignment? Highlight your own area of expertise in this paragraph.

The final paragraph says how soon you could write the article (give yourself enough time for example, “three weeks from assignment”) and says you are enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and looking forward to their reply. I often send the letter to as many as ten different publications at the same time.

Within the magazine business, there is an on-going discussion about simultaneous submissions (where you send the same finished article to several publications). If you do this, you may end up on the black list of authors. Each publication has a list of people that they will not work with. You don’t want to be on that list. Also each publication has a list of authors they use regularly and call with ideas. Your goal is to get on this particular list of regular contributors.

From my perspective, a simultaneous query is not the same as a finished article. Go ahead and query several magazines at the same time on the same topic if you think you can write several different articles on the same subject. One magazine may ask for 500 words on the topic while another may approach it from an entirely different viewpoint and ask for 2,000 words. Your illustrations and information will be considerably different. If you send it to ten magazines, you may get ten rejections. On the other hand, perhaps you will get an acceptance or two, or at least a request to see the entire article on speculation. “On speculation” means that the editor is not under obligation to purchase your article if it doesn’t meet the periodical’s standards or expectations.

While it’s great to learn about magazine submissions, the real proof of this article is taking action. Take a few minutes and plan to target some publications then write query letters on a regular basis and send them. If you don’t send out your ideas, then no editor will consider it and no assignments will come. As a writer, you have to learn this skill of pitching your ideas, and then constantly put it into practice.

terry-whalin-headshot-9-2016

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, 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

 

Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

How to Read a Poem

howtoreadapoem

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word go truth. 2 Timothy, KJV
You must know how to read a poem in order to understand and appreciate it.

  1. Read a poem more than one time.
  1. Keep a dictionary nearby and use it. Also have a good mythology book and the Bible.
  1. Read to hear the sounds in your mind.
  1. Pay careful attention to what the poem is saying.
  1. Practice reading aloud, careful not to go too fast or too slow.
  1. Pay attention to punctuation.

Ask Yourself-

Who is the speaker and what is the occasion?

 

What is the central purpose of the poem?

Does it tell a story?

Reveal a human character?

Express a mood or emotion?

Convey an idea or attitude?

 

By what means is that purpose achieved?

 

Another way to understand a poem is to PARAPHRASE a poem in prose making it as plain as possible.

The Poem:

A Rose

Have you ever noticed how fast

a rose dies?

In its youth it is like an adult in miniature.

The span of its life only a

few short days.

Yet its simple beauty casts

a magic spell.

Then, like greying temples

old age strikes its mature form

with brown edges

and finally wrinkled and

spent its petals fall

limb from limb.

© 1975 Darlo Gemeinhardt

 

The Prose Version:

Looking at a rosebud is like looking at a miniature rose. When it matures it opens out into a full blown rose whose beauty is fleeting, lasting only a few days before it starts to wither and the petals drop one by one. We can compare it to our life which is swiftly over as we age from youth to adult.

 

Try rewriting some of your own poems or select a few famous ones and see what you can do converting them to prose. Have fun.

 

__________________

Literature, Structure, Sound and Sense, Laurence Perrine, (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World Inc., 1970) pp. 533-549

darlo

Darlo Gemeinhardt  writes MG novels and the occasional poem.

She spends a good portion if each day taking care

of twenty-five dogs. That’s why she believes, “There’s

a Story in Every Dog.”

www.fromthedogpen.com

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Fantasy and Maps—Does Your Story Need One?

 

What do “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “The Land of Oz” all have in common?

Crack open any of these classic books and you’ll find a map of a fantasy world to go with the story. The inclusion of maps within works of fantasy was not uncommon in early literature, however, it was made more popular with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” saga.

There are multiple reasons to include a map in your fantasy work. A map can aid a reader to use their imagination and abandon their disbelief of the non-reality. This new world, although steeped in mystery, becomes real to the reader, bringing a deeper connection between the reader and the story. Just as the character of the story is on a journey through this fantasy world, having a visual of where that character treads can create a better understanding of his personality.

Among the more recent fantasy writers, a few authors prefer to avoid the inclusion of a map, as they consider it a distraction from the story. These authors would prefer for the reader to deeply connect with the words, and to avoid the urge to flip back to the map, thus breaking up the story in the reader’s mind.

But there are also writers who hold firm to the inclusion of maps, recognizing that every reader is different. Some readers love maps and might purchase a fantasy book simply because a map is included! Others are more visual and need a map to help them understand the movements within the story. Ultimately, if a reader isn’t a fan of maps, they will likely just skip right over it anyway.

So, should you include a map in your fantasy manuscript? Consider these thoughts to help you decide:

– It’s not a good idea to include it just because other fantasy authors do so. If a map is necessary for the reader to understand the story—particularly if there is quite a bit of travel within it—then by all means, include one!

– Can you keep it simple? It’s important to keep the reader in mind so you don’t bog the picture down with extraneous detail. There is a difference between “complicated” and “detailed.”

– How much research are you willing to put into it? There can be marked differences between a medieval design and a futuristic design. Study the maps of successful fantasy books and see what common theme you see between them.

If you’re still not sure if your book needs a map, then ask your beta readers or critique partners for their input. If you can write in a way so the reader doesn’t need to flip to a map to understand where your character’s journey takes them, then it’s likely you can leave out this extra element in your story.

Does your manuscript include a map? How has it improved the overall understanding of your fantasy world with your readers? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Laura L Zimmerman 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

 

 

 

 

 

Featured photo courtesy of Upsplash & NASA

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

A3 Contributor Book Release-Saratoga Letters by Elaine Marie Cooper

Open book.

Congratulations to A3 contributor Elaine Marie Cooper for the release of her new book Saratoga Letters. Elaine pens the column, Writer Encouragement for Almost an Author.  We are so proud of you Elaine.

Saratoga Letters-saratogalcover

 

It is 1777. The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, encourages the American Continental Army with their first great victory. But there seemed little to celebrate for one patriotic woman forced to nurse wounded British soldiers right in their war camp. Thrust into deception by a cruel Loyalist uncle, Abigail is forced to lie in order to survive, all the while dealing with fears that challenge her faith. Danger stalks her everywhere, yet her salvation springs from an unexpected source.

Then…

Two hundred years later, on the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event—including descendants from the war. One young American, Abby, meets another offspring of a British soldier. When her life is threatened, Abby turns to the only person she knows at the event—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way Loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps letters from long ago will reveal the truth.

elainecooper

Award-winning author Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of Saratoga Letters, Fields of the Fatherless, Bethany’s Calendar and the historical trilogy called the Deer Run Saga. She has been captivated by the history of the American Revolution since she was young. She grew up in Massachusetts, the setting for many of her historical novels.

Her upcoming release is Legacy of Deer Run (CrossRiver Media, Dec, 2016), Book 3 in the Deer Run Saga.

Cooper has been writing since she penned her first short story at age eleven. She began researching for her first novel in 2007. Her writing has also appeared in Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home by Edie Melson and the romance anthology, I Choose You. She has also written articles for Prayer Connect Magazine, Splickety Prime Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Life: Beautiful Magazine. She began her professional writing career as a newspaper freelancer.

 

You can read more at her website/ blog, www.elainemariecooper.com

 

 

Categories
Bestsellers

Best Selling Author-Liz Curtis Higgs

 Liz Head Shot 2016

WELCOME Liz,

Can you share a little about your recent book?

With joy! I asked more than a thousand women to share their favorite verse—the one that inspires, encourages, and strengthens them, day in and day out. The result is 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart, releasing October 18. It offers a deeper, richer understanding of thirty-one treasured verses, a fresh look at how these timeless truths can impact our lives, and thirty-one creative ways to keep them in our hearts forever. I’m beyond excited about this one!

 Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I write because I love the Lord and His Word and am compelled to share His beauty with women of all ages and at all stages of their Christian walk. God’s love for us and His gift of grace are at the heart of every book I write. Because He redeemed my life from the pit, I want women to know it’s never too late to turn back to the One who created them and loves them completely.

 How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?

“One Size Fits All” and Other Fables, now long out-of-print, released in 1993 with Thomas Nelson. Before that, I spent a year or two reaching out to publishers with queries and sample chapters, but I didn’t move forward until a kind friend told an editor about my speaking platform (at the time I was speaking about 120 events a year). A 3-book contract followed shortly thereafter, and I’ve had multiple contracts ever since. (I seldom share this at writers conferences, or the whole audience groans!)

The truth is, all of the above has little to do with my efforts. God is the One who opens and closes doors. He calls us to do our part—to work at our craft, to hone our skills, to do our homework—but in the end, He alone writes our books and He alone gets the glory.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Too long! That’s what my editor would say for sure. I am not a fast writer. Each book takes about a year, from conception to research to writing to editing to typesetting.

 What’s your writing work schedule like?

For the first draft, I schedule about 80 full writing days—days on which nothing else happens. No haircuts, no lunches with friends, no doctor appointments. I start writing after breakfast and go more or less full-tilt until 9pm.

In the early stages of a book, I’m happy if I hit 1,000 polished words a day. Midway through, I need to be clocking 1,500 a day, and in the final chapters, more like 2,000 a day. My nonfiction books are roughly 50-70,000 words long, my historical novels are 130-160,000 words.

 Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?LIZcat2

I write better with cats. My two tabbies, Samson and Boaz, spend most of my writing days in my study, draped across my desk or curled up in a nearby chair.

 What has been your greatest joy in your writing career?

For me, receiving letters and emails from readers who’ve been drawn closer to God is the best part of being a writer. No glowing reviews, no awards, and certainly no royalty checks can compare to knowing that the words God poured into your heart have touched another person and impacted her life in some way. Pure joy.

What has been your darkest moment?

I’ve had a dark moment with every book I’ve written. Somewhere in the second half of the manuscript, I decide the whole things is horrid, and I lose all hope of finishing. I put aside the manuscript and pray like a madwoman until the Lord restores my joy in the project, shows me what needs fixing, and I dive back in.

 Which of your books is your favorite?

You know, of course, that’s like asking a mother which one of her children is her favorite! It’s even harder to choose now that I’ve just finished my thirty-fifth book.

Among my children’s books, The Pine Tree Parable is my favorite (don’t tell the other books in the series!). Of my nonfiction books, Embrace Grace and The Girl’s Still Got It are especially dear to my heart. And of my novels, Whence Came a Prince is the one that stretched me the farthest and taught me the most.

Who is your favorite author to read?

That’s an even harder question! Can I go by genre? Favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Favorite nonfiction is Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. And favorite Christian novel is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Their skill extends far beyond just those titles. Reading anything by L’Engle, Lewis, or Rivers is time well spent.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you would have listened to?

Be patient. A writing career takes time to grow, and most of it happens when no one is looking. Reach out to other writers to learn from them and to support them. Don’t be seduced by fame or money. Both elude most writers, and last for a very short time. Write because God has equipped you and compelled you.

What encouragement would you give an aspiring writer?

Read. Write. Listen. Refine.

Read the very best books, studying each writer’s style and letting the content seep into your soul. Read outside of your genre—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature. Read time-tested classics as well as contemporary bestsellers. Read books about the craft of writing. Above all, read Scripture.

Write every day. Have several works in progress, so when you lose momentum with one, you can hop over to something else. Journal writing can help you discover your true voice, and may provide content for future projects. When you’re ready to share your words with others, a blog is the best way I know to hone your writing skills in a public setting. Write devotionals, articles, guest posts, short stories—whatever will keep your mind, heart, and hands engaged.

Listen to your heart and seek direction from God’s Word. It’s easy to be swayed by what the marketplace says will sell or what others think you should write. Dig down deep. Write about the things that are the hardest for you to write about. The places where you’ve been hurt, the wounds that are still healing, the questions for which you’re seeking answers. God will show you those places and offer words of comfort, encouragement, and direction for you and for your readers. Trust Him.

Refine your efforts by learning the fine art of rewriting and self-editing. Allow your writing projects to get cold, leaving them untouched for weeks. When you return to them, you’ll see your work through fresh eyes and know what needs changing. Working from a hard copy, cover each page with notes and ideas, then transfer the best corrections and additions to your electronic file. A week later, do it all again. Good writing is mostly about rewriting. Embrace the process.

Cover 31 Verses 1200
Release Oct. 18, 2016

Liz Curtis Higgs has one goal: to help women embrace the grace of God with joy and abandon. She’s the author of 35 books with 4.6 million copies in print, including Bad Girls of the Bible, It’s Good to Be Queen, and her Scottish historical novels, Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is the Night, a New York Times bestseller. Liz has spoken for 1,700 women’s conferences in all 50 states and 14 foreign countries, bringing messages that are biblical, encouraging, down-to-earth, and profoundly funny.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liz-Curtis-Higgs/e/B001IOF77I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1472657154&sr=8-1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizCurtisHiggs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizCurtisHiggs

Categories
Guest post archive

Defining the Dreaded Pros

Ah, comparisons. I hate them. And yet I fall prey to making them constantly in regards to my writing and writing habits. I’m probably the worst in the case of the terrifying, the unspeakably horrifying…professional writers.

Defining the Dreaded Pros

You might not know who I mean. As someone newer to writing communities and meeting other authors and editors, I’ve encountered this kind of writer a couple of times and been scared to death of them. Whether we’ve even interacted or not, it doesn’t matter; I occasionally get intimidated. They’re the writers who probably have published their work in some way and many-a-time, have a fancy blog that they manage to maintain, have entered and won many-a-contest, are amazing at networking, and with all of this, when you read their content, you’re floored at how natural their words sound. They’re fast, consistent, confident, and just really good at what they do.

I would find these guys a lot—on blogs, in Facebook groups, in writing podcasts, even at times in my writing partner and friend. And when I did, I’d then look at my writing, my workspace, my habits while writing, or just my life. It didn’t feel very encouraging to see people naturally write stuff so well, and then not even see them struggle much with editing. People tell me writers should make time to write, and the pros do it flawlessly, it appears. I end up losing sleep and sanity where the only space I’m really able to make time and find motivation (sometimes) in is during the later hours of the night. I end up sad and writing things I dislike while trying to mature and get more professional with what I’m doing and writing.

The Reality

We ought to confront this issue. I can’t be alone in struggling with the constant comparisons Satan encourages me to make with the writing experts. Let’s start by asking an important question: Are these professionals actually real? Perhaps that’s the mistake I (and possibly you, dear reader who might relate) am making here— assuming these flawless writers with amazing stories/blogs/whatever, healthy habits, and a well-managed life do exist. I’m not saying there aren’t skilled writers, or people more experienced in the field than I. Nor would I dare say there isn’t such a thing as brilliant, talented writers. But what I’m saying is that there’s no such thing as these perfect writers who have it all together. We’re all made by the same Creator in Heaven, and are imperfect humans who’ve all fallen before. This doesn’t make me feel better than pros at all. It just reminds me, we’re in the same difficult boat that is the writing biz. We all have our struggles (sometimes ones that we might not reveal). The only perfect writer I truly know is God with His word and plans for the world. So let’s get down to business and meet with these fellow imperfect writers, and face the fear of professionals.

Fear not; know God’s bigger

First, let’s remind ourselves again, they’re human, just like you and I, dear reader. They aren’t the almighty writing gods who have come to smite us for our lesser-than abilities. They are potential friends, partners, and of course, fellow writers. We can learn from them about what they might be more experienced in, as opposed to feeling too “not-enough” for conversation with them. We’re all imperfect, yet gifted in our own ways by a perfect God.

heidiprose

Second, we forget that writing is an art as we seek to write the best story with the best characters and the best meaning. Best, best, best. We get caught up in things like it’s a contest. Art’s subjective, and to my fellow Christian authors, remember, your book is not the Bible. Only God can use your story by His will to impact someone…and even then! It’s nothing compared to His word. That’s not to say you should write whatever and just hope God uses it, though. Seek to honor Him in what you make, by consulting Him on it.

The best part is, because God is so perfect in our imperfection, He’s glorified. We can put our self-worth not in our own abilities, but in what God’s truth about us is. He wants us to glorify Him in all we do too, so if I try writing to seem more professional, and succeed, but have written something against all God’s called me to do, with complete disobedience to and disregard for Him, have I really succeeded in anything? Is it really about my own success? No! It’s about glorifying my Creator in all I do (Colossians 3:1-4). So know who the real God is, and don’t be scared of men, but seek what God’s calling you to do. He’ll give you the strength to do it, and if you don’t feel capable, that’s okay. I once heard a friend of mine say, “God doesn’t just call the prepared, but He prepares the called.” It’s about God’s ability in completing His will. Not yours (2 Corinth. 3:4-6).

Be led by God in what you write—not your fears of other people.

That’s why I say, have fun, be nice with the other writers, make friends, and remember to listen to God through it all.

How have you dealt with comparisons in the past (or in the present)? What are some ways you try to shift your focus back to God’s perfection and glory instead of what you’re doing in your writing by your abilities?

(Photo cred: Google Images (original source: imgur))

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heidimello

Heidi Melo is a human being that enjoys pizza and the idea of long walks on the beach (by herself. Maybe with pizza.). 12 years of her life consisted of being a missionary kid in Central Europe, but she now resides in the U.S., scribbling and playing keyboard and ukulele. Sometimes she does the writing thing, other times she does the drawing thing. She does a lot of things.Though she’s often not sure what she’s doing or where she’s headed, Jesus has saved and is teaching her imperfect, human self each day. Heidi has written multiple short stories, worked on a collaborative project in the past, and usually is found in penguin-print pajamas, with a mug of tea, scribbling people, places, things, and ideas to life.

Categories
Book Reviews

BOOK Review-It’s Good to Be Queen-Liz Curtis Higgs

Liz Curtis Higgs interview will post October 1, 2016

 

Exotic Woman

 

In It’s Good to Be Queen (2015, Waterbrook Press), author and award-winning speaker Liz Curtis Higgs turns her attention to the Queen of Sheba.

 

This queen is not a major figure in the Bible or in any historical text. As a result, very little is known about her; her name cannot be determined, nor can her age, marital status, or other biographical information. Perhaps it is that lack of factual information that has caused more than a few authors and Hollywood scriptwriters to embellish her story, painting her as a temptress or even as a wife of Solomon.

 

Higgs does not fall into that trap, and rightfully so. Instead, she bases her discussion of the queen on 1 Kings 10:1-13, the only source of factual information about this mysterious and fascinating woman. Higgs mines these 13 verses to examine the life of the queen who is, according to the author, “the wise one [queen] . . . who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart” of King Solomon, and she uses that journey as the framework for this book.

 

Prefacing each chapter is a short fictional narrative written from the perspective of the Queen of Sheba. These accounts, which begin during the queen’s arduous journey across the Arabian Desert and draw to a close as she prepares to depart Israel and return home, draw in readers and allow them to experience the queen as real, living woman, not just a nameless, faceless, historical character. Lyrical and beautifully written, these fictional introductions are the thread that hold together this study.

 

From each of those 10 small pieces of the relatively larger story, Higgs draws one attribute such as boldness, honesty, or generosity; each of those 10 traits is the focus of one chapter. Using the Bible and historical fact gathered from reliable sources, the author clearly explains the customs and practices of the world in which the Queen of Sheba lived and how, given the context, each trait is exemplified in the queen. The author then provides her own personal experience and that of  her “online friends” to share why and how that same trait can and should be cultivated by Christian women today.

 

The tone of each chapter is warm and engaging, and touches of humor are sprinkled throughout this character study which reads like a conversation with a dear friend. It is easy to see why Higgs, author of over 30 books, is beloved by countless women and her books  popular for use both by individuals and small groups. To that end, she provides 2 study guides at the back of the book: the first contains 10 discussion questions for use after the book has been read in its entirety, and the other provides a chapter-by-chapter study guide with a more in-depth discussion of each chapter.

 

In It’s Good to Be Queen, beautifully-written fictional narratives and well-researched discussion are woven together to create an interesting character study of the Queen of Sheba. Fans of Liz Curtis Higgs will not be disappointed, and those who are new to her writing will no doubt find this book informative and intriguing.

 

pattimiinch

Book Review by Patti Miinch: Patti Miinch, a widow and mother of two adult children, lives in Southeast Missouri. Her lifelong passion — as both a writer and a reader

— for the written word led her to pursue a career as an English professor. Her hobbies include watching college and professional sports, spending time with her family, knitting, spending time outdoors, and traveling.

 

 

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

A3 Contributor Book Release-Jesus and the Beanstalk by Lori Roeleveld

Open book.

Congratulations to Lori Roeleveld on her new book release, Jesus and the Beanstalk- Overcoming Giants and Living a Fruitful Life.

jesusbeanstalk

“In a land of giants too often we spend so much time contemplating our opponents and weighing the odds, we defeat ourselves. Let me save you some time. The odds are always in favor of the giant-always-but odds don’t win battles. Ask David.” page 4

 

We live in unsettling, challenging times. Everywhere we look, we see giant problems: giant obstacles to sharing faith, giant barriers to peaceful lives, giant strongholds of fear. But what if you knew eight small secrets to unlocking a strength big enough to overcome whatever obstacle life may bring?
Using allegory and a bit of humor, Jesus and the Beanstalk explores a passage in 2 Peter 1 to uncover eight truths that will help you unleash a larger-than-life faith:
· Faith
· Goodness
· Knowledge
· Self-control
· Perseverance
· Godliness
· Affection for others
· Love

In this creative, refreshing perspective on spiritual growth, you will discover an unyielding strength when you tap the power of a God who is stronger than any beanstalk and bigger than your biggest giants.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2drePMl

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dtfdK8

Abingdon Press: http://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781501820045#.V-rbs_ArKM9

About the Author:

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is the author of Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus) and Red Pen Redemption. Her blog, LoriRoeleveld.com, was voted Top 100 Christian Blogs by Redeeming God.com and has enjoyed over 2 million views. Lori lives in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Visit her online at LoriRoeleveld.com.

Reviews

“Jesus and the Beanstalk is crafted to touch mind, heart, and soul. It has no lesser goal than to remind all believers that they are giant killers. In an age when there are many new and frightening affronts to people of faith there is no better time to be reminded that giants can be felled by faith and determination.”
~ Alton Gansky, Award winning author of over 35 books

“In a world that’s never been more crowded with noise, do you wonder if you’ll ever again find a fresh voice with a new idea, especially about personal spiritual growth? Tempted as I am to keep this discovery to myself and wish you good luck unearthing your own, I learned too much from this book to do that in good conscience. Lori Stanley Roeleveld’s Jesus and the Beanstalk: Overcoming Your Giants and Living a Fruitful Life is the antidote to the glut of drivel that masquerades as pious self-help books these days. Do yourself a favor and see how Lori deftly uses humor and uncommon sense to mine biblical truth from an unlikely fairytale and painlessly nurture you in the process.”
~ Jerry B. Jenkins, The New York Times Bestselling Author

Categories
Guest post archive

Elegy for the Oxford Comma-Carol Sparks

 

carole-sparks

It was a quieter time, a calmer day

When people didn’t have so much to say

When thoughtfulness reigned

And answers restrained

Until we’d had time to reflect.

 

Books made of paper and ink

Weren’t rare, but they caused you to think.

You might “sit a spell,”

Stare out the window and dwell

On a sentence that rolled ‘cross your tongue.

 

Sentences stretched in two spaces.

Commas lined up like shoelaces.

The author’s rhythm and tone

Made your breath match his own

And his ‘and’ was never confusing.

 

Some say Oxford comma’s superfluous,

Double spaces are nothing but vacuous

But in them we rest

And our thoughts find a nest

Oh, let characters line up with no counting!

 

I am not a poet (as you can tell). I wrote this tongue-in-cheek elegy after waxing philosophical on typographical changes in writing, not because I’m old and nostalgic. Okay, maybe I’m a little old.

 

What does it mean that we remove the Oxford comma and the spaces in ellipses, along with that second space between sentences and after colons? At a practical level, we save paper and reduce our character-count, but I wonder if it changes all readers’ experiences like it changes mine. John Piper recently observed, “Shaped by smartphones and soundbites, we are impatient with communication that forces us to slow down.”

 

In that milli-second of space, whether blank or occupied by punctuation, the reader breathes. In the seven—yes seven—spaces formerly necessary for an ellipsis, we could consider that which was omitted. Now that we don’t have built-in spacing, it’s up to the writer to create “breathing room” within the paragraphs.

 

How do we do that? Consider these three ways, then add your own suggestions in the comments at the bottom.

 

3 Ways to Create Breathing Room in Your Writing

 

  1. Dialogue Breaks

At least we still change paragraphs when we change speakers. Beyond that, we can insert speaker beats. (Check this post for how to do it well.) I have this one friend who never pauses when she talks, but most people naturally breath, blink, and/or wait for feedback from others. Those moments in the story give our readers time to catch up.

 

  1. Descriptive Moments

We all know, “Show, don’t tell.” Adjectives work naturally into that premise and—bonus!—contribute to the sensory experience. “Spending” the words necessary to say beige carpet or gray sky permits your reader to create a stronger image before moving forward. A few authors do this so well we want to stay in the description. Remember Steinbeck’s whole chapter on a turtle crossing the road in The Grapes of Wrath (ch. 3)? For the rest of us, a couple of descriptive words will suffice.

 

  1. Downbeats

Because we, the omniscient authors, know everything that’s happening, we can easily skip that second in which the character processes what he/she has learned, but when our characters take a moment to absorb something, our readers do the same. Let your character freeze mid-step, pause, raise an eyebrow, or exhale slowly. As a reader, I usually end up mimicking the character and understanding the story better because of it.

 

Use these 3 Ds to help your readers keep pace with your plot through your paragraphs and pages.

 

Now it’s your turn! What other ways can we manage the “spaces” in our writing? Your ideas don’t have to start with D.

 

Carole Sparks is a reader-turned-writer because she just couldn’t keep her hands off those delicious sentences! When she’s not writing, she’s running, reading, or raising her children. You can catch up with her on her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter. (See what I did there? See that last comma?)

Categories
Guest post archive

LAST DAY TO REGISTER-A Writers Retreat at your Fingertips-Jerry’s Guild

13241420_10207371772557850_6120281336896645534_nDon’t have the money or time to attend a conference?

Need training or a tune up on your schedule?

Want to learn from established writers?

Almost an Author is honored to partner with Jerry B. Jenkins to educate, equip, and encourage writers. Jerry is personable and cares for writers of every genre, age, and ability. This is evident when you  join the writing community at Jerry’s Guild .

Jerry’s Guild is an on-line writers forum that gives daily contact with fellow members—writers just like you—for wisdom, encouragement, and motivation. Jerry responds to  questions and gives some writers an opportunity to be critiqued by him.

“If you want to gain serious confidence as a writer, finish your book, and get your message into more hands—I want to be your writing coach.” Jerry B. Jenkins

I believed him and now I’ve learned Ferocious self-editing, Nailing your first 5 pages, Show Don’t Tell, and more.  I am amazed at all the phenomenal teaching.

Jerry interviews Best Selling authors so Guild members receive the best training.  These Master Classes include James Scott Bell, DiAnn Mills, Steven Laube, Brandilyn Collins, Randy Ingermanson, Doc Hensley and more.   The interviews are personal and informative. Many of these writers struggle with the same things we do.

The best part of being a member of Jerry’s Guild, I can go back and watch the videos again and again, Wherever I want, whenever I want.

The demand for membership is high.  Jerry opens the Guild for membership just a few times per year so he can give attention to each member.

The Guild closed TODAY

http://firstimage.trknw.com/?a=8&c=19&s1=

There is a money back guarantee.  The monthly cost is minimal.

The Guild is like having a writers conference at your fingertips, but at a fraction of the cost.

Membership would make a great gift for you or your writing friends.

Click on the link above and join a group of like-minded individuals while receiving the best, up to date training.

I am off to listen to Master Class #1 again with Chris Fabry,  award-winning host of the Chris Fabry Live! syndicated radio show (Moody Radio Network) and now an award-winning author as well.

Guess who trained him?

 

jerrysguild

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour- Ben Wolf

benw

Welcome, Ben.

Tell us about your latest book.  I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You
I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You follows the imaginary exploits of a father and son to adventurous locations. At each location, they encounter an alpha predator that attacks the son, but the father intervenes and saves him every time because the father loves his son.

Why do you write what you do?: I write action/adventure speculative fiction because it most resonates with who I am as a person. I love sci-fi and fantasy, and I’m developing a taste for horror as well. It’s the most fun set of genres there is.

What are you currently working on?: Currently, I’m working on a Christmas novella in which Santa has to save Christmas from Father Time. I can’t go into much more detail than that for the time being, I’m afraid.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?: My work differs from other work in its genre in a variety of ways:

1. I usually try to buck conventions of whatever genre I happen to be working in.

2. I write with a unique voice.

3. I routinely try to twist the reader’s expectations of what my work should be.

How does your writing process work?: Generally, I get an idea and write down the idea. I write as much of that idea down as I can. When the idea is written down, then I try to give it some structure. I typically write stories that adhere to the three-act structure, so I pinpoint the key moments in my story where they’d be with the three-act structure.
After that, I begin outlining in more detail, usually on a chapter-by-chapter level. Then I save the outline separately and create a new document with the outline in it, and I begin writing. As I write the content of the outline in story form, I delete the outline notes in the manuscript. By the time I’m done, there is no outline left, but I have a story.
From there, I begin the editing process. I start by whittling down the writing by cutting unnecessary words and tightening up the prose. Then I have someone else look at it to check my writing for areas in which I’m weak (usually character stuff). I perhaps do some additions and tweaks, and before long, I’ve got a solid manuscript ready for pitching or publication.

Ben Wolf founded Splickety Publishing Group (SPG) http://splickety.com/

The goal of SPG is to meet the needs of busy folks like him: people who appreciate great fiction but lack the time to read. SPG offers three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Splickety (multi-genre), Havok (speculative), and Splickety Love (romance).
Ben’s novel Blood for Blood won the 2015 Cascade Award and is characterized as “bold…with nonstop tension” and “hard to put down.” It asks, “What if a vampire got saved?”

His debut children’s book, I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You, is a 2016 Cascade Award finalist.

I'dpunch

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Punch-Lion-His-Eye-You-ebook/dp/B0185N6R3W/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1471548030&sr=1-5

Social Media and Blog:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=110400056

Twitter: http://twitter.com/1BenWolf

Instagram: @1benwolf

Website: www.benwolf.com

 

Categories
Flash Fiction-Splickety

Emotion in Flash Fiction: How to Pack a Punch in 1,000 Words or Less

TeddiDeppner
“Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

In astronomy, a singularity is a black hole. It’s a powerful gravitational well that sucks in everything around it — planets, moons, asteroids, dust clouds, stars, even light itself.

What does this concept have to do with flash fiction?

Emotion is the singularity that sucks your reader in and devours them whole. Emotion is also the singular focus of the short story writer: it is the only thing that leaves a mark and creates a lasting memory in a reader. Flash fiction is generally under 1,000 words in length. So how do you generate the sort of emotional gravity force that will grab hold of your reader in such a short time?

It doesn’t happen by accident. You do it with intention.

FIRST IDENTIFY

Ideas for short stories come to us in many forms. Sometimes a striking scene pops into your head. Sometimes a character stuck in a tough situation grabs your empathy. Sometimes a fascinating “what if?” scenario or scientific fact tugs at your imagination.

These are all good starting points, but before you jump on the keyboard and begin merrily typing away, do this one vital thing: identify the emotion your story is best suited to evoke in your reader.

THEN INTENSIFY

“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” – Edgar Allan Poe

Good flash fiction requires the same basic elements needed for any good story: setting, character, desire, an obstacle or conflict and a resolution — all working together to form a powerful emotional experience for the reader. Each element should be written towards that singular focus, and every word must pull its weight. In fact, as you gain experience with flash fiction, everything should pull double — or triple — duty.

The description of the setting should add to the mood, imply something about the character, and hint at the story’s climax. The dialogue should provoke an emotional reaction, as well as illustrating who the characters are and what they want.

Even if your story is under 1,000 words, you can still give the reader enough information to connect with the main character. Skip across the timeline of your character’s life, zooming in to show key moments that enhance the target emotion.

Be careful, though. If you are targeting the emotion of regret, that doesn’t mean every sentence will be sad or regretful. Not at all. The impact of the target emotion is a result of engaging the reader in a vicarious experience, so that they want to see the character get what they desire, so that they are disappointed when the character fails, they are hurt when the character is in pain, and ultimately, they feel the target emotion when the character’s story is finished. For example, the story might be full of wonder and delight, and the hope of a happy ending. The regret is then achieved at the end when something hinted at throughout the story comes to fruition and sabotages the hoped-for happiness.

THE READER IS PART OF THE EQUATION

Readers themselves bring memories and emotions to the table. Leverage those. It’s not always about describing your character’s pain in order for the reader to feel pain. Your character may feel something very different than the emotion you’re evoking in your reader.

When you write, imagine the age of your target audience, the things they may have experienced before, the movies and books already popular in your story’s genre. Make them think your story is headed one way, similar to other stories they’ve seen, and then give them a delightful surprise. Paint details from significant events that trigger memories of their own first love, first funeral, first pet, first fear.

Flash fiction is about packing a punch with just a few words. When you pick every detail of your story with a single powerful emotion in mind, your readers are more likely to be sucked into your story and have an experience they’ll remember for a long time.

EXAMPLES

DailyScienceFiction.com has an impressive collection of good quality short stories in the speculative genres. Here are a few stories that packed an emotional punch:

• Voidrunner – This story covers decades of a life in 823 words. It also uses setting and repeated imagery to enhance the emotional impact.
• The Circle of Life – This story contains the familiar emotions of a sibling helpless in the face of her sister’s selfishness and then turns it upside down in the last sentence.
• Sparg – I first read this story in 2013, and will never forget it. So sad!

 

[bctt tweet=”Generating emotional gravity in 1000 words or less doesn’t happen by accident.” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it. – Edgar Allan Poe

[bctt tweet=”Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story. – F. Scott Fitzgerald” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

AUTHOR BIO:
Teddi Deppner is an indie author, founder of the #SpecFicCollective and Associate Acquisitions Editor at Splickety Pub Group. She’s also a homeschool mom, artist and an avid toy and nature photographer. Hear more about her projects at http://www.teddideppner.com/ or connect on Twitter or Facebook.

Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

What is Poetry- Darlo O. Gemeinhardt

darlo

The term poetry comes from the medieval Latin poetia, from Latin  poeta ‘poet’. It usually refers to the written expression of feelings and ideas using distinctive styles and rhythms. Poetry has been enjoyed by millions of people through oral and written traditions. What makes it so popular? Poetry says more and says it more intensely than ordinarily language.

Poetry gives us information, clarifying our thoughts and emotions. It has been used for persuasion—advertisements, propaganda, sermons, and political speeches.

Poetry doesn’t just tell us about an experience but it allows us to participate in it through our imaginations. We fill in the blanks the poet leaves out. We build our own images based on the information in the poem.

 

For instance, you can be surrounded by a roomful of people but not a single one may really know you—the real you, inside where your true self is hidden. Maybe you observe the person sitting on the row next to you.What do you really know about them? Let’s say they are female, early twenties, brown hair, casual dress, etc. But what do you really know? Poetry can take you further. It can even show you things about yourself. Maybe this girl is like the person in the poem below.

On Being Invisible

With each line I write

I feel a little more of

myself is being grafted onto

the body of my soul.

Some of the grafts are rejected

but those few that do take

root grow and increase

my knowledge of myself.

Who knows, someday I may

recognize myself formed

in the words on a plain

sheet of paper.

 

Perhaps I am even now

hidden on this page.

I am here if only

you will look.

© 1976, Darlo Gemeinhardt

 

Poetry is a multidimensional language covering intellectual, sensuous, emotional, and imaginative areas of life. Try it.

Darlo Gemeinhardt  writes MG novels and the occasional poem.

She spends a good portion if each day taking care

of twenty-five dogs. That’s why she believes, “There’s

a Story in Every Dog.”

www.fromthedogpen.com

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

How to Increase Your Publications Odds-Terry Whalin

WTerryWhalin

by Terry Whalin

The bulk of my magazine writing is done on assignment. How do you get an assignment? Which magazines do you read on a consistent basis? Your familiarity with these publications and the types of articles that they publish gives you some needed background.

Pull out the magazines that come into your home.

Organize them with several months from the same publication. Then study the contents. What types of articles do they publish? How-to articles? Personal Experience? For example, at Decision, where I used to be an editor, almost every article is a first-person, personal experience story. If you send them a how-to article which is not written in the first person, you are asking for rejection. Or if you write a story about someone else in the third-person, you will again invite rejection.

After you have studied the publications, then write the publication for their writers’ guidelines. Almost every magazine has guidelines for their authors. You can also use google and often find these guidelines online.  Write a simple letter asking for guidelines and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the response. You can find the address for the publication usually on the masthead of the magazine under editorial offices. Or use The Christian Writers Market Guide by Jerry B. Jenkins. This guide is a critical tool if you are going to write for the Christian marketplace. After reading through the guidelines, you will have some additional information. Does the publication accept query letters or prefer full manuscripts? Some magazines have a query only system. This means that you have to write a query letter (one page) and get a letter of request from the editor, before sending the full manuscript. Other publications like Decision do not look at query letters but only completed manuscripts.

What’s a query letter? Entire books have been written on this topic and one of the best is Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Collier Cool (Writer’s Digest Books). A query is a single-page letter which sells your story idea. It has a four paragraph formula. The first paragraph is a creative beginning for your article. You don’t write the entire article–only the first paragraph which captures the reader’s interest. The purpose of this first paragraph is simply to capture the editor’s attention. I won’t walk you through the day of an editor but since I’ve been one for years, I know they are involved in a multitude of tasks. For editors to read query letters, it is often done at the end of the day, late at night or in a car pool on the way home. It must be interesting.

The second paragraph includes the main points of how you will approach the article. The third paragraph gives your personal qualifications for this topic and your writing credits (if any). It basically answers the question, why should you of all the writers get this assignment? Highlight your own area of expertise in this paragraph.

The final paragraph says how soon you could write the article (give yourself enough time for example, “three weeks from assignment”) and says you are enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and looking forward to their reply. I often send the letter to as many as ten different publications at the same time.

Within the magazine business, there is an on-going discussion about simultaneous submissions (where you send the same finished article to several publications). If you do this, you may end up on the black list of authors. Each publication has a list of people that they will not work with. You don’t want to be on that list. Also each publication has a list of authors they use regularly and call with ideas. Your goal is to get on this particular list of regular contributors.

From my perspective, a simultaneous query is not the same as a finished article. Go ahead and query several magazines at the same time on the same topic if you think you can write several different articles on the same subject. One magazine may ask for 500 words on the topic while another may approach it from an entirely different viewpoint and ask for 2,000 words. Your illustrations and information will be considerably different. If you send it to ten magazines, you may get ten rejections. On the other hand, perhaps you will get an acceptance or two, or at least a request to see the entire article on speculation. “On speculation” means that the editor is not under obligation to purchase your article if it doesn’t meet the periodical’s standards or expectations.

[bctt tweet=”No one gets magazine assignments just by thinking about it” username=”@A3forme @terrywhalin “] As a writer, you have to take action and be regularly pitching your ideas to editors and writing query letters. Then when you get an assignment, write an excellent article and submit it on or ahead of the deadline. As you learn to write a query letter and take consistent action, you will increase your odds of publication and get published in magazines.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, 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

 

 

Categories
Guest post archive

When ADHD meets Discipline-Cherrilynn Bisbano

me

“STOP!” I screamed as I grew more frustrated.  “I can’t focus! How am I going to get this book done?”

 I have ADHD.   I did not realize I had it until my son was diagnosed with it 10 years ago.

Finally, I had the answer to my fidgeting, lack of concentration, unfinished projects and my urge to blurt things out during a conversation because I’m afraid the words will escape me.
I knew I needed focus and discipline to finish the book.
[bctt tweet=”Finally, I had the answer to my fidgeting, lack of concentration, unfinished projects” username=”@A3forme @chingaling3″]

What happens when ADHD meets discipline?  I liken my thoughts to a squirrel scrambling to collect nuts.  There are so many that he stops in his tracks.  “Which way do I go?”  “Which nut do I focus on first?  Which one is the biggest?”
I am that squirrel, with  a hundred  thoughts flashing around in my brain.  What chapter to I focus on today?   What will touch the reader’s heart?  What Bible verses do I use?  LUNCH!

“Lord, I need your help!”  I knew God would not call me to write and then leave me scurrying about gathering up words that don’t make sense.
 My biggest problem is finishing a task.   I continued to pray.
A friend of mine mentioned a Discipleship Counseling Course that he completed through Eternity College.  The course was free.   I like free.   I signed up and found myself with ten hours of homework each week.  Homework that would change my life forever.
We had to complete the book, “You Can Change” by Tim Chester.  The book states to pick one thing you want God to help you change. I chose Procrastination.  Working through the book helped me figure out why I procrastinate.  It is not just ADHD.  I lost that excuse.
It is disobedience. I know God called me to write.
I can’t blame the squirrel for everything.  I searched the scriptures. and the next verse became my marching orders.

  “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.” 2 Corinthians 8:11

I try to apply this verse daily, trusting God will keep His promise from the Scripture.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13

I made a schedule and follow it.  This keeps me focused.

Squirrels still invade my day, I have even chased a few but God gently reminds me to focus. squirrel
Instead of chasing them I try to learn from them.

They chase each other up and down trees, scurry across the yard, hang from the bird feeder, and gather nuts like it is a relay race.  Seems like a bunch of craziness to me. However, their work gets accomplished and they have fun while doing it.

I accept my ADHD and give God the glory for using this squirrel chaser to further His Kingdom.
Do you chase squirrels? What distracts you?

 

Cherrilynn Bisbano is the Associate editor of Almost an Author and Head of Promotions for Dream Fetchers, a non-profit organization bringing Hollywood dogs to visit children in Hospitals and organizations.  www.dreamfetchers.org

She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh and other online magazines.  Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard; earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her fourteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 17 years, Michael, Sr.

Blog www.truthtoshine.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cherrilynnryerson.bisbano

Twitter @chingaling3 https://twitter.com/chingaling3

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Doctor Knows Best- Laura L. Zimmerman

Laura L Zimmerman

by Laura Zimmerman

Allons-y!
Say these words and any Doctor Who fan will be able to tell you the season(s) and actor related to this phrase. (Reboot seasons 2-4 and David Tennant are the answers, by the way.) These words are immortalized in the minds of those who follow the Tenth Doctor, a phrase that has become a part of his very character.
A repeated phrase, action or object can be effective in connecting your character to your audience. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just something unique that sets them apart in the reader’s mind, something the reader can relate to. It could be the difference between a reader putting your book down, or sparking a fire within that keeps them reading.
The popular TV show, Doctor Who, does a fantastic job utilizing character traits. Here are a few reasons to consider adding a unique phrase or action to the characters in your own work of fiction:
1. It makes them memorable. Doctor Who fans of the earlier seasons will identify a twelve-foot-long multi-colored scarf with the Fourth Doctor. Each time I serve celery for lunch, my teenaged daughter will remind me that it donned the Fifth Doctor’s lapel for many episodes. Like a familiar commercial jingle or tagline from a retail store, these unique traits will keep your character in the minds of your readers. Something both you and your publisher will appreciate.
2. It makes for better marketing. Hand-in-hand with the first point, if you can find a trait to make your character memorable, then it will be easier to market toward your intended audience. You’ll have a built-in arsenal of ideas already! Browse Pinterest to find a number of DIY wall hangings with phrases like, “The Girl Who Waited” (Companion Amy Pond) or “The Impossible Girl” (Companion Clara Oswald). Attend any Sci-Fi convention and the Doctor Who fan with the red bowtie and fez will tell you the Eleventh Doctor made them “cool.” Publishers want to hear your ideas for how you’ll market your book. Characters with unique traits can make the difference between a publisher choosing your book, and another similar work.
3. It elicits emotion. “Allons-y” will make a fan’s heart pound with excitement since a fight against evil is sure to follow. “Run you clever boy” will elicit dread, as this is often spoken to The Doctor at the height of a climactic scene. Riversong’s words, “Hello Sweetie,” are surely followed by joy in the hearts of romantics, and the evil Daleks “Exterminate” will undoubtedly strike fear. Link the unique phrase, action or object to an emotion and you can recreate that emotion within your reader later, with a few simple words.
Have I missed any? What other ways do you use character traits to connect with the reader? I’d love to hear feedback regarding your thoughts!

 

Bio: 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

Categories
Bestsellers

Bestselling Author-Cindy Sproles

Welcome Cindy Sproles.

cindys

Congratulations on your debut novel and bestseller.  You are extremely approachable, and you strive to assist aspiring writers. What drives you to stay so connected to the writing community?  I do love to teach new writers and to encourage them. I’ve been in their shoes. .the waiting, working, trying hard to break in…and it does make a body weary. My prayer has always been that God would help me keep a soft heart for those who are up and coming. I want new writers to have the same opportunity I’ve had to be mentored by folks who love the writing industry. I always think of the song that Babie Mason sang – Each One Reach One. Though this talks about evangelism, it’s the same premise. If each published author reaches out to even one new writer, we all have the opportunity to succeed.

Can you share a little about your recent book? Mercy’s Rain is an Appalachian Historical. It’s a hard story, set in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains during the late 1800s. It’s a story of redemption. The protagonist, Mercy Roller, was sexually and physically abused by her circuit riding preacher father who ruled the people of the mountains by his own twisted view of the scripture. This story is Mercy’s realization that what happened to her as a child was wrong. It walks the reader through her anger at her father and at God and then her redemption and forgiveness to be able to move on. It’s a raw, emotional book written to

1) give a voice to children who are sexually and physically abused

2) to address issues that churches and ministers face

3) to walk people through their anger at God and to realize God is not the instigator of evil

4) to find forgiveness and healing

5) to remind congregations to worship God not your pastor.

So it is a hard story. It’s a story you’ll have a love/hate ride with, and I promise, when you are done, your heart will be changed. (Disclaimer – Mercy’s Rain is FICTION. NONE OF THE INCIDENTS IN THE BOOK HAPPENED TO ME).

Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books? I write because it’s a passion God has given me. It’s my personal form of expression. As for theme. Well, I’m a mountain gal. Raised in the Appalachian mountains where life is a little slower, folks are friendly and generous, and the life is simpler – I wanted readers to feel the breeze of the mountains, yet see the hardships of its people. I’m able to share hard subjects with the simplicity and naivety of the mountain folks. I always want my books to offer truth in some form. For Mercy Roller, the truth was honest forgiveness. In the new book, Liar’s Winter. (Releasing in Spring 2017), it’s about choosing to be the better person – loving people despite themselves. So yes, I try to embed a deep spiritual message. I write my novels to the general market, but I embed that Christian undertone so that truth can prevail. One thing about the mountain people is their deep spiritual ties. When I tell these stories, I can share that tie with the general market reader and them not feel as though I am preaching at them. They simply see the spirituality of the characters as part of who they are. This allows me to speak the truth into a world that otherwise would not listen.

How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? I’ve been writing since I was a child. But seriously, for about ten years. It took me six years to land my first major house contract. Six years of writing, learning the craft, honing my voice. It’s not a fast industry, and I was willing to continue to learn the craft and be patient for God’s timing. When I reached the level I needed to be writing wise; God blessed me with a contract from Kregel Publications. They took a chance on a debut novel, and both Kregel and myself have been blessed by God’s impeccable timing.

How long does it take you to write a book? Well, if I managed to write 8 hours a day…about two months. But I can’t write 8 hours a day. So it takes me about four months to produce a first draft and another month to edit and perfect it.

What’s your writing work schedule like? I do have a j-o-b outside my home, and I travel for Christian Devotions and Lighthouse Publishing, but I try to write a chapter a day.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it? I suppose it’s talking to myself. It’s not uncommon to see me standing in front of a mirror carrying on a conversation, watching body language and movements. For me, I can hit true dialogue when I look at the girl in the mirror and carry on the conversation. My husband has long learned I’m really not talking to dead people, but I’m working out a storyline.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career? My greatest joy has been being a part of the success of my peers. It’s such fun to work with a writer and then see them find the success they have worked for. That’s the paycheck – knowing I’ve done what I called to do – help others. And when I help them, God blesses me. So it’s a win-win.

What has been your darkest moment(s)? My darkest moments were the times I was sitting on the fence waiting for that first contract. I could have teetered one way and quit, or teetered the other way and been successful. I learned that this is the time Satan grabbed ahold of me. He tried to get me to self-publish, tried to get me to quit. Wanted me to whine and cry. I had to learn to let go of the completed book and move on to the next project. Shopping and selling the book was my agent’s job. My worrying and fretting did nothing except make me depressed.  I learned to move on to the next project. Every project teaches and hones my ability and when I step out of the way, God can and will work. And He did.

Which of your books is your favorite? In fiction, Mercy’s Rain. Though I have two more books in this series that are dear to my heart. For non-fiction – New Sheets – Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be.

Who is your favorite author to read? On the Christian side: Francine Rivers and Steven James. On the secular side – Nicholas Sparks, Steven King, and Michael Crichton.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too? I would remind writers that this industry is a process. It’s a slow turning wheel and that rejections are not a bad thing. They are a measure of where you stand in your skill. Early on rejections are just…no. But the better your skills become, the better the rejections become. Things like: We don’t have a home for this right now or we liked this work, or money is tight…those are not bad rejections. They are telling you; we really like this, but right now our house is full or unable to manage another manuscript. This is when you learn to let go. Allow God to do the shopping for you. There is something to be said for the bloody knees that come with rejections. They grow you, bring you to a higher level of determination and skill. I would say, learn to be patient. Don’t rush. Rejections are not bad things. They are not personal. Let them allow you to grow as a writer.

What is the single greatest tool you believe a writer should have in his or her toolbox? Two things: 1)A teachable spirit is a must. You should never be so perfect you can’t continue to learn.  2)A good self-editing book.

Have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you? LOL – I lost count. Actually, I stopped looking. But as I said earlier, rejections taught me to persevere and improve.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books? Oh yes. By far the first chapter of Mercy’s Rain. You have to read it. I don’t want to spoil it.

Where do you get your ideas? Ideas are everywhere. A thought. A line from a television show. The look of a person. I keep my eyes and ears open.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make? It’s always in the basics. But these are things a writer has to learn, like resist the urge to explain or goes without saying – redundancy. It’s part of the learning process.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market? Well, that depends. It varies with every writer and what they write. I would say, attend writers conferences. Those are your quickest roads into a publisher or an agent.

Cindy Sproles is an author and speaker. She is the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the Executive Editor of www.christiandevotions.us and www.inspireafire.com. Cindy is the acquisitions editor for SonRise Books and Straight Street Books, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She teaches at writers conferences and women’s conferences nationwide. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.

 

mercyrainMercy Rain

Social Media links:

Twitter – @cindydevoted

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cindy.sproles

Website:  cindysproles.com

 

 

Categories
Guest post archive

When Life Imitates Art-Robert Whitlow

robertwhitlow

            You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Art imitates Life.” This makes sense because every creative person, whether writer, painter, composer, is deeply influenced by what they’ve experienced, felt, and believe. The creative process flows from within, and each person is a reservoir of everything the river of life has deposited inside. This dynamic has produced another axiom specifically addressed to authors – “Write what you know.” When we write what we know, either from life experience or study, it increases the likelihood that the characters created and the world in which they live will have texture, levels of meaning and nuanced interactions that avoid one dimensional and stiff stories.  As a southerner, I’ve never wandered from my roots. All my novels have been set in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, the states where I’ve lived. I know about those places and the types of people who live there. If I suddenly pulled up roots and started writing about Minnesota, I’d be rudderless soon after typing the first “You betcha.” A second axiom for writers is “Write what you’re passionate about.” I agree with this statement, too, but I’m not going to address it here. Instead, I want to tell you about a time in my life in which life imitated art. Here’s what happened.

In 2005, I wrote a novel entitled Jimmy. This story was different than anything else I’d written because the main character wasn’t a lawyer, he was the mentally limited teenage son of a lawyer. In the book, Jimmy lives in a small Georgia town. His mother abandoned the family when he was a toddler, and a few years later his father remarried. Jimmy’s stepmother wasn’t the evil stepmother stereotype of Cinderella.  Rather, she was a maternal archetype, a woman who loved Jimmy with her whole heart. In fact, she couldn’t have loved him more if he were her own flesh and blood. However, there’s a dark side to limitless maternal love. Mama loved Jimmy, but she also smothered him. She was over protective, which meant Jimmy wasn’t allowed to take the risks necessary to mature and reach his highest potential. Enter Jimmy’s paternal grandfather, Grandpa, a retired utility lineman who worked for the Georgia Power Company (my father was an engineer with GPC and I worked there in the summers during college – art imitates life). Grandpa secretly taught Jimmy to climb an abandoned power pole in the grandfather’s back yard. In the process, Jimmy overcame fears and learned to do something unique. Grandpa was a mentor archetype, and climbing the pole was a metaphor for Jimmy succeeding in life. Their special bond is at the heart of the story. If you want to find out what happens in the novel you’ll have to read it.

Two years after I wrote Jimmy one of my daughters went into the hospital to deliver her first child, a boy. When I got the word from my wife that the baby was about to arrive, I drove five miles to the hospital. As I approached the facility I felt the Lord say to me, “He has Down Syndrome.” I immediately dismissed the possibility. A few minutes later, my wife delivered the news that we had a grandson with Down Syndrome. Both us then had the same thought – I was going to have an opportunity to be like Grandpa to this precious new life. The passion that I instilled in Grandpa the fictional character would have a new, real life object – Hunter Whitlow. That was over eight years ago. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time and poured a lot of love into Hunter, and I want to do my part in helping him achieve his highest and best potential. Life imitated art.

Oh, and my wife made me promise not to put an abandoned power pole in our back yard.

Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.

A3 had the privledge of interviewing Robert. Look for his interview November 17th, 2016

 

Categories
Guest post archive

Hooking your Audience Part 1

sarahzimmerman

By Sarah Zuehlke

Magazines. They come in a never ending stream of styles and forms. In spite of the push to move everything into the digital realm, you can still find a magazine on just about anything: fishing, hiking, sports, science, and even rare pets. So now comes the fun part, have you ever wanted to write a magazine article? Most likely the process seems daunting, but with a little help from the good sport of fishing, your magazine article will be just what you were hoping for. Today we are going to look at hooking your audience.net

The first thing in our proverbial tackle box is a net. Nets are important because they can cover a specific target area. You need to know who you are writing for, so research your audience. For example, if your magazine article is for kids, pick age appropriate sentences and vocabulary. Don’t throw in complex hard to understand sentences. If your article is aimed for scientists or engineers do some research on technical terms they might use. Once you know the audience you intend to write for, begin crafting your article. If you were fishing you would find out what kind of fish you were looking for before you started, and pick a net accordingly, otherwise you wouldn’t know how to catch them and you just might lose your fish.

A good example of an article written for a specific audience is in the 2016 July/August issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist where there is an article about Freshwater Filtration. This article, written by Kate Barrington, describes the numerous types of filters in the aquarium hobby as well as the importance of the right kind of filter. This article is written for a specific audience, tropical fish hobbyists. If the reader were completely new to the hobby they might become a little lost, but someone interested in the subject will enjoy the details. However, the author correctly researched for the appropriate target audience. I am a tropical fish hobbyist, and I found myself being hooked by the author’s research, which was informative and well written.

Going backtacklebait to our tackle box, the second thing we need is bait. You want the people that read your article to go for the bait and take it. If the article begins on a boring note or has no interest to them they will pass over it. A fish will often completely ignore the wrong bait. Think of an exciting way to start your article. You want that first sentence to draw in your audience. If you are writing about puppy training start off with a cute story, then slowly weave in training advice. Or maybe you are writing about an experience that happened to you. If that is the case, start off with the most exciting part, then back track to the beginning and lay out how it all happened.

In the June 2009 issue of National Geographic there is an article about river dolphins. The author, Mark Jenkins, hooks the audience by colorfully describing the way the dolphins swim in the rivers of the Amazon, then precedes to get to the main points of the article. From the first sentences I found myself captured by the descriptions and interesting facts. If you have the right bait you will be able to catch the right fish. The same goes for writing, if you get the reader interested they will be sure to read your article and enjoy it.

Lastly, near our tackle box is our dependable fishing rod. The rod not only holds the bait; it can bring the bait to life from the movement of the rod. A great way to hook your audience is to write about something totally new, or even an old story in a new way. Maybe your topic has been trampled by uncountable authors but you have a different and new perspective. A novel perspective on an old topic can bring new life to a subject. Perception is important because every author brings a new perspective. It is the same for the fish. The same old bait comes to life when the fishing rod is moved about. There are endless possibilities of new and exciting news, information, and stories. So why not get your audience hooked by that norodvel story idea for an article?

Writing a magazine article might seem impossible, but we can see from our fishing gear that it is not so difficult in the end. Next time we will return to our tackle box.

Bio: Sarah Zuehlke

Sarah Zuehlke, a budding fantasy novel and short story writer, greatly enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors. When not tackling her insect collection, she co-writes with her brother on their fantasy book series. Additionally, she pursues her graduate degree in Entomology with University of Nebraska.

 

 

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour- Catherine West

Catherine-West-Author-Headshot-001

Welcome,  Catherine.

Tell us about your latest book,  The Things We Knew

When their tragic past begins to resurface, can he help her remember the things she can’t? After her mother’s death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to blame their father for their mother’s death, but nobody will talk about that tragic day. And Lynette’s memory only speaks through nightmares. Then Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, bringing the past with him. Once Lynette’s adolescent crush, Nick knows more about her mother’s death than he lets on. The truth could tear apart his own family and destroy his fragile friendship with Lynette, the woman he no longer thinks of as a kid sister. As their father’s failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets surface that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question their faith, their willingness to forgive, and the very truth of all the things they thought they knew.

Why do you write what you do?: I love family drama, so I am drawn to those kinds of stories. I write stories that mirror real life, real problems, sometimes life is messy. But I believe there is always hope to be found, and my stories will always point toward grace and forgiveness.

What are you currently working on?: I’m just finishing up edits on my next release, The Memory of You. This relational family drama takes place on a vineyard in Sonoma, CA, and will be available March 2017.

Thirteen years ago, Natalie lost a part of herself when her twin sister died. Will traveling back to the family winery finally put the memory to rest, or will it completely destroy her?

When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died—the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began. But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so. And Natalie never says no to her father. Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed. Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise. But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her. But finding freedom from the past means facing it.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?: While I write faith-based fiction, I believe in writing stories that will appeal to everyone, not just readers of Christian fiction. You won’t find a heavy spiritual thread in my books, but the faith message is always there, it just may look a little different than other books within the Christian market. I don’t necessarily feel everything needs to be tied up neatly at the end, or everyone’s problems solved. Life doesn’t always work that way, and my fiction mirrors that.

How does your writing process work?: I usually get a story idea first, maybe a location, and then the characters. The story plays like a movie in my mind, and I’ll write as it comes. I am a total seat of the pants writer, although I am trying to get better at plotting, but even if I begin with a skeleton of where I think the story will go, it hardly ever works that way!

Catherine West

INSPY Award-winning author Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children. Catherine’s novel, Bridge of Faith, won the 2015 Grace Award. Her new novel, The Things We Knew, releases July 12th, 2016, through Harper Collins Christian Publishing.

Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at

Catherine@catherinejwest.com

The Things We Knew

Social Media and Blog:

Website – http://www.catherinejwest.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CatherineJWest
Twitter – https://twitter.com/cathwest
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4715219.Catherine_West
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/cathwest/
Google + – https://plus.google.com/u/0/108781711729974539211/posts
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-West/e/B004RWZUHK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Guest post archive

For The Love of Writing

shelbywebbby Shelbey Webb

At the young age of 10, as a 5th grader, I recognized that I loved to write stories.  I couldn’t understand my classmates’ dread each day as we headed to our English class.  My teacher was what I would now label a “Grammar Nazi”.  I hated her red ink marks on my papers, but I paid attention to her comments and learned from my mistakes.  Her daily assignments were strengthening my enjoyment of writing.

I won’t say that I was a perfect child, but I certainly didn’t get into any trouble or cause any problems!!  In primary school I wouldn’t dream of doing something that would cause my clothespin to be moved from “green” to “red”.  I never spent a single minute in detention during middle school.  In high school, like always, I steered clear of anything that would even possibly call for a trip to the principal’s office or a phone call to my parents.

However, during my junior year of high school, my days of being the perfect child ended.  Yes, miss “too afraid to even think of being late to class” was in trouble for her first time.  There I was, sitting in the principal’s office, not for an award, or a congratulations, but because I had plagiarized.   Wait, I did what?  Plagiarism?  Exactly what is plagiarism and how can I be guilty of plagiarism if I don’t even know what it is?  Right?

Well, the first thing I did was cry.  I had made it almost all the way through my junior year of high school without getting into trouble.  Man, I just knew I was toast!  All of these awful thoughts were running through my head. Will I be suspended from school? Will I be able to get into college? Can I go to jail for plagiarism? My whole life is just ruined!! I had such high hopes for my writing career and I was afraid that I had just ended my career before I got out of high school.

Thankfully none of those things happened, but I did learn from that experience.  The first thing I learned was the definition of plagiarism.  According to Merriam-Webster….

Plagiarize:  to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas.

See, I can copy the definition of plagiarize, word for word, as long as I give Merriam-Webster credit!!

So, exactly what did I plagiarize?  I honestly can’t remember.  It was a homework assignment.  I did that homework assignment just like all my other homework assignments.  But, by the strict definition of plagiarism, I had copied a phrase a little too literally and the teacher took notice.

If I plagiarize at any point in college I will most likely fail and potentially be removed from the school.  Now that I’m Almost an Author, the conceivable consequences of plagiarism are much greater. If someone were to take this post and call it their own, I would take great offense and possibly demand satisfaction!!

So maybe, just maybe, getting in trouble for plagiarism as a 16 year old high school student was a blessing in disguise, and here is why:

  1. Nothing in life is just handed to you. You can’t just take someone else’s writing and call it your own; that’s not how life works. You have to sit, think, and write from your own thoughts. Don’t take the easy and wrong way out and steal from someone else.
  2. Writing means more to me than I initially thought. I had always loved to write, but I realized how much I actually enjoyed it after feeling like it had been taken from me.
  3. There are consequences in life, even if you aren’t aware that you did something wrong. Even though I didn’t know I was plagiarizing, I was still guilty.  The same goes for anything that anyone unintentionally does wrong.  Everyone makes mistakes and there are always consequences.
  4. Never give up. I could have given up on writing. I was actually afraid that I would unintentionally plagiarize again and be even more trouble.  I kept trying, though, and overcame my fear.  Now I am blogging for a few sites and making connections with so many other writers around the world.

I could add more lessons that I’ve learned from mistakes that I’ve made, but then you might get the idea that I’ve made more mistakes than just plagiarizing in high school.

Shelby Webb:  

I am a college student chasing after God’s own heart. Happily an ice-cream addict and a lover of all puppies. Arkansas girl with a passion for writing.

I write for theodyssey.com on the University of Central Arkansas’ team.

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

First Things First

WTerryWhalin

By: Terry Whalin

Many people want to publish their writing. After working as a magazine editor for years plus writing for many publications, there is a simple truth every writer needs to remember and practice:

[bctt tweet=”You have to do first things first…submit your work #freelance #magazine” username=”@A3forme”]

If you only dream about writing and never submit your work, then you’ve never taken that first step toward publication.

Yet even before you submit anything, you have to handle the blank computer screen. How do you figure out what to write?

Many writers and would-be writers have told me how that blank page petrifies them. In this article, we’ll explore my technique for getting started to write for magazines. It’s a rare day that I have trouble putting those initial words on paper. I always jot down some ideas ahead of time before I write. Maybe my notes are just a couple of points that I want to cover when I write the article. The reality is ideas for magazine articles are everywhere and the places to write are just as plentiful. Maybe you have had an interesting personal experience that you want to capture in your story. Possibly you have been involved in a ministry and created some unique materials that you’d like to tell to others through a how-to article. Maybe you’ve compiled some teaching on a topic from the Bible and would like to get that into print.

Or if you don’t have any material from your own experience to write about, consider interviewing some interesting people around you and writing their story for publication.

Before you write anything, the first questions to ask are:

Who is my audience?

What publication will use this article?

The possibilities are endless: adult, women, men, children, teenagers, or youth. Are they in a specialized occupation such as pastors or school-teachers? Are they a certain age?

[bctt tweet=”The important thing is to be sure to target a specific audience. #Freelance #amwriting” username=”@A3forme @terrywhalin “]You can’t write an article assuming that every reader will want to read your material because that simply isn’t the case. Articles are written for a particular audience and a particular publication.

Every writer meets with rejection and projects which are never published. In fact, I have files of material which has circulated and never been published. I caution you that rejection and unpublished articles are a part of the writer’s life and the road to consistent publication.

As a writer, you have to practice first things first. Craft your article for a particular audience then get it off your desk and into the hands of an editor. It can happen, if you get it into the market so make your move today.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, 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

 

 

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Guest post archive

Freedom from Plot

by Laura L. Zimmerman

Laura L Zimmerman

I went for a swim at 6:30 this morning. 

Okay, not really, but in my story my I did. The characters in my book made the snap decision to hop in a pond and cool off. I hadn’t planned on this. In fact this swim doesn’t even have anything to do with the plot. But I wrote it, anyway. Ultimately, it was something they would do. So they did. It opened a door for conversation between two characters to grow closer and build trust. 

This is a big deal for me. This never would’ve happened in the not-too-distant past. Until recently, I’ve functioned primarily as a ‘plotter’. I would plan and plot and outline my story, until I had it structured and polished. Then I would write.

But just over a year ago, I accidentally became a ‘pantser’. It wasn’t intentional. I had a scene for a new story that I wanted to get out of my head before it disappeared, but didn’t want to take the time to plot, since I was in the middle of writing another story. So, I sat and wrote the scene. Out of that scene came another, then another and another, until I had a third of the book written – something I hadn’t imagined possible without prior planning. The experience changed my perspective on a few things.

Here are four lessons I’ve learned about writing as a ‘pantser’:

  1. Personalities stay consistent.We’ve all been there – after a beta reader or critique group finishes a section of your manuscript, the dreaded comment slaps you in the face: The action of a specific character isn���t consistent with what we know of him/her up until that point. Ouch. As a plotter, I would take painful care to review each scene and evaluate a character’s reaction. However, this didn’t stop those pesky personalities from wandering off their beaten path, because I was so focused on sticking to that plot. But whenthe character directs the flow of the book, it’s easier to think about what would come naturally for him/her. What would the next decision be for the character, not for the plot? The plot will eventually come to pass, but allowing each character to react in a natural way, will connect the reader to those characters.
  2. There’s more conversation.I’ve spoken with plenty of writers who love the chance to tell their tale, but dread that dialogue! They agonize and worry over the words that come out of a character’s mouth. As a ‘pantser’, there’s no need to push to the next scene, as much asallowing the characters to take the reader to the next scene through conversation. I’ve found the characters share more meaningful words, once I allow them the privilege to speak freely.
  3. Fewer worries about the plot.But what about that plot, you ask? Of course, don’t abandon it all together – we’ve all experienced frustration as we’ve read a book with plot holes and inconsistencies. But when the characters ‘drive’ the story, those characters and the decisions they make become more important. Plot holes and inconsistencies can always be corrected during revision and editing. But the general flow of the book will be more credible if you allow for deep, connected characters.
  4. Beat that Writer’s Block. We’ve all cringed at that blank sheet of paper at some point. However, I’ve found this happens more often as a ‘plotter’, than it does now. When my brain felt forced to write something without inspiration, I couldn’t find the words. As a ‘pantser’, the words come easier when I ask myself, “What would this character do next?”

What about you? Are you a plotter or pantser? Which do you prefer? Feel free to comment below and share your experience!

 

Bio: 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

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