Author: Donna Jo Stone

Categories
Writing for YA

Seven Tips for Your First Author Event

I’m getting ready for my first-ever author event. I’ve been talking with other authors and poking around online to try to prepare.

Author of YA historical fiction, Stephanie Daniels made a few suggestions.

1) Decorate your table, if allowed. Make it eye-catching.

I’m going pretty plain and low-key, since I write in multiple genres. Authors who stick in one lane may wish to use items and colors to coordinate with their branding and genre.

A tablecloth will help make my area attractive, and a set of clear acrylic book stands for my titles will get my product off the table and in line of sight for the people browsing. Authors can use many types of displays for their books, and may wish to use something that reflects genre such as fantasy, romance, historical, and so on. The main thing is to make it pleasing and attractive.

I’ve heard tell you can never go wrong with a dish of candy. I plan to use either a plain dish or a Christmas-themed bowl, since it is a holiday Author Fair.

Other suggestions I gleaned from the Internet was to have different types of displays and signage, perhaps have a small poster with a tagline or blurb, your cover, some art, a QR code, and/or your website.

I wanted to purchase author pens to give away, but needed to keep an eye on my budget so concentrated on bookmarks instead.

2) Bring author bookmarks to give away.

As a collector of bookmarks, this seemed like a fabulous idea to me and a great way to advertise.

I had two options for this. In the past, I made mini-bookmarks from my business cards, but my cards only have my name and website address on the front.

I decided to go with new bookmarks, using elements from my website to make an attractive bookmark readers might hang on to for a while.

On the back, I put my tagline, web address, author photo, two of my book covers, an endorsement, and QR codes to my Amazon author page and another to my Goodreads page so people could read reviews.

I’m not sure if it was a mistake to put more than one QR code, but certainly more than two seems like overkill to me. Some authors put a QR code directing people to their newsletter sign-up. You could also have a QR code that goes directly to a specific book or book series.

Because I wanted a broader usage that would be relevant for a long time, I chose to have people go to my Amazon author page. Of course, if you are not exclusively published on Amazon you would want them to go to your website or universal link page.

I ordered bookmarks made of the highest available card stock, coated, with rounded corners. Choose the type of bookmarks you want to buy based on your budget and current needs. Shop around for the best price, making sure to consider shipping costs and delivery times.

Many authors use bookmarks to promote one book or one series. After the cover reveals for my young adult series, I will design another bookmark to promote those books.

3) Instead of sitting behind the table, stand in front or off to the side.

As people come by, offer them bookmarks and engage them in conversation. Ask them what type of books they like to read and tell them about what you write.

Depending on the event, this may not always be allowed, but if it is, I will try to engage people. When I’m feeling well it’s easy for me to interact with people. If I’m having a hard day it’s a bit more challenging.

4) Have a sign-up sheet for your newsletter.

Another great idea. Hopefully, many people will sign up for the newsletter which will give an author a second chance to make contact with future readers.

5) Don’t forget to bring bags for customers’ purchases.

6) And provide QR codes for your PayPal and your Venmo for payments.

It’s also a good idea to bring change for those paying with cash.

7) Last but not least, order your author copies well in advance.

Delivery times for author copies is notoriously slow compared to the quick shipping we have come to expect as shoppers.

As a parting bit of advice, Stephanie reminded me that while fulfilling the role of salesman may be uncomfortable for many of us, the people attending the event are there to buy books and to connect with authors.

Have you participated in an author event? Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, including her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2025, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Jumpstart Evocative Writing During the Holidays

Does your prose suffer from overly mechanical writing? Your story gets there, but the scenery is somewhat bland? Or maybe even though you’ve pulled out all the stops, using every technique you know of to employ deep point of view, you still want to add a bit of umph to your writing with sensory detail and emotion? Perhaps your fiction is immersive enough, but you feel you could delve just a little deeper. Here are a few ideas to help sharpen your skills by using the holiday season as a time of observation, research, and inspiration for your writing. 

Human Behavior

The best writers are careful observers of human behavior and make use of their knowledge in both fiction and nonfiction writing. During the holidays, we can’t help but notice exaggerated and intense human behavior, whether in line at the store, in a coffee shop, at church, or at home. Even the casual observer is sure to encounter some interactions during the holiday season that may not be seen at other times of the year, both the positive and the not-so-positive.

We mingle with people who we don’t normally interact with every day. Perhaps these are people we don’t know well, such people as at work parties, school events, or community happenings. This can also apply to people we share a history with, relatives and family friends.

In the young adult arena, change happens fast. What is true of the attitudes, thoughts, and needs of young adults today may be different that it was in the past. Take the opportunity to reexamine any preconceived ideas you may have and use the knowledge gleaned to apply to your teen characters, while at the same time noting the unchanging elements all young people have faced.

The holiday season is different from the regular day-to-day. People are stressed, thrown into unusual circumstances, and as a result, display the complicated human nature in all its glory. Stress brings out all sorts of emotion and behaviors, including in ourselves. It can bring out the best—and worst—in us.

Chronicling the actions around us and our own internal reactions and thoughts can be useful. (Just don’t write down anything you wouldn’t want people to read!)

Unique Settings

If you have trouble describing settings or integrating sensory detail into your work, the holidays are the perfect time to take special note of surroundings. Over the next two months, novel sights and sounds will be plentiful. Music, food, beautiful decorations, all of these things are a treat for the senses. It’s a perfect time to catalog what you are experiencing as you taste your pumpkin pie, experience the texture, temperature, and scent. And a perfect time to think about memories or feelings that bubble to the surface, which leads me to another component of evocative writing, emotions.

Intense Emotions

If you’re brave enough to peel back some layers during the holiday season, you might find a world of emotional experiences to draw on. I feel like I can’t make it through the holiday season without diving headfirst into a sensory and emotional smorgasbord. I’d be hard-pressed to make it through any holiday season without tears of happiness, gratefulness, and grief. Sometimes all three simultaneously. 

Pay attention to the things that put a tear in your eye. Sit in the moment for a little while. Ignore the busyness and listen to what your heart is telling you.

Nostalgia and Connectivity 

Every year I bring out the nativity set my grandmother made for me. Then I tell my children about my grandmother. My youngest daughter never got to meet her because she had already passed away before my daughter was born. Yet I tell her the story every year. This is a perfect example of how we often mine our own experiences, capture the feeling and emotion, and pass the story on. The family stories we tell foster connection, as do the memories we keep.

The holidays naturally lend themselves to digging into our own emotions and tender feelings (fond or not) toward the past. Writers can use personal or collective stories as a springboard to do a similar thing with the stories they write, getting in touch with emotion on a deep level. There’s a reason Christmas stories and movies strive to create a nostalgic mood. It helps connect the audience to the story. For writers of young adult novels, reconnecting to the experiences and feelings of our younger selves can help us write authentic characters in our fiction.

Immerse yourself in a highly emotional, sensory environment, observe others reactions and your own, and take notes. Allow yourself to be inspired. Just make sure that you are also living in the moment and treasure all you are blessed with. Remember, the best material for writing—and for a life well-lived—is to live in the moment fully.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

Donna Jo’s Christian Southern Coming of Age, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again, releases November 15th.
 
Babies are a gift from God, a truth fourteen-year-old Marigold (Mary) Parker knows full well, but the one she carries is the result of assault by her cousin. This secret can destroy her family, and Mary isn’t sure how much of the truth to reveal—or what to do about the baby.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, including her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2025, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Donna Jo’s Christian Southern Coming of Age, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again, releases November 15th.

Babies are a gift from God, a truth fourteen-year-old Marigold (Mary) Parker knows full well, but the one she carries is the result of assault by her cousin. This secret can destroy her family, and Mary isn’t sure how much of the truth to reveal—or what to do about the baby.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, including her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2025, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Tips for the Spotlight Shy Author: Written INterviews

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of the spotlight. I’m completely comfortable speaking in public as long as I’m the one asking questions, but I get a little nervous when the tables are turned. It’s probably no surprise to you that not all writers are comfortable with public appearances and interviews. After all, writers spend their days with keyboard or pen, choosing written words as a way to communicate.

Written interviews are a natural for authors, but still come with a few pitfalls. It’s wise to avoid the common mistakes and be a good interviewee. Interviewing for blog posts can feel more informal and may be a little less intimidating than other types of interviews. (I’ll talk about those other types in a different blog post.)

Bloggers may offer spots for interviews, book excerpts, guest posts, or book reviews. I’m focusing on interviews, but the same rules apply for these other types of written posts as well.

Where to Find Opportunities

Blogs and Online Avenues

Young Adult book blogs that post author interviews are easy to find by a search of wordpress or other blogging platforms, but the best bet are those with recent entries.

Once you’ve found a blog that fits, look for a FAQ page, a contact form, or an email. Some blogs will provide a link to a google form. If they do, make sure to fill it out completely and follow all the directions.

Authors can also find opportunities for mini reviews in other social media communities.

A note of caution: While there are legitimate marketing companies that use social media platforms, be cautious of those offering to do interviews or features in exchange for a fee. Research and do your due diligence before shelling out any cash.

Don’t be afraid to ask for spots or book blogs or on author blogs. Many are happy to have a guest!

Print Magazines and Newspapers

These are more “one and done”. You can find contact information in the byline of a particular columnist, or in the publication’s masthead. Make sure the contact information is up to date before emailing the columnist. Unless you know the person, I suggest sending a businesslike query at first contact, introducing yourself and explaining why they should feature you or your work.

After Getting the Interview or Post

Before responding with your answers, read over the directions and make sure you understand what the interviewer is requesting. Stick to the agreed-upon topic. Pay attention to due dates, word limits, and include any requested additional information such as excerpts, author photos, book cover images, book quotes, buy links, and social media links.

If you need to reschedule, notify the interviewer as soon as possible.

Make the Best Use of the Opportunity

Use all your writing skills to produce quality copy, answering the questions clearly while still staying within word limits. Try to let your own unique voice shine through. Remember, this is an opportunity to introduce yourself to future readers and fans! Once you’ve written out your responses, use a spellchecker, a grammar checker, and do a final proofread of your work before sending it off.

Understand that your responses or article may be edited or that there may be follow-up questions. Be sure to respond to any correspondence, taking note of deadlines. Keep in mind there may be a lead time, and exercise patience while waiting for your interview to be published.

If the interview is for a blogger—depending on the type of post—engaging commenters by replying to their comments can be a great way to make connections with new readers.

Let Your Fans Know

After the interview is published, you can get mileage out of the article by sharing a link on your social media. Another idea is to post a lead-in link on your blog or in your newsletter.

Are you an author of young adult fiction looking for an interview opportunity here at Almost an Author? Contact me at donnajostone@gmail.com

Have any tips to add? Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

The first novel in Donna Jo’s young adult series, Promise Me Tomorrow, is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, released May 15th, and her Small Town Christian Domestic Suspense with Romance, The Key Collector’s Promise, released September 6th .

Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

A3 Author Book Release: The Key Collector’s Promise: A 1980s Suspense with Romance at Our House on Sycamore Street

From the Publisher

When young real estate agent Sandra Lejeune rece​ives an anonymous letter threatening her family, she leaves her ​home in Cypress Bend, Louisiana and travels to England, inten​ding to warn her estranged mother. But first she has to find her.​ Sandra starts her search in the Suffolk coastal village of Ede​n Cove, untangling memories and mysteries along the way. W​ho sent the letter? Her father’s shady business partners? The ​private investigator Sandra previously hired? Or someone else en​tirely?

She came to warn her estranged mother of danger. But will the cost of unraveling family secrets be too much to bear? If you love domestic suspense with romance, you’ll love The Key Collector’s Promise. 

Award-winning author Donna Jo Stone delivers a tale of domestic suspense infused with family drama and a dash of southern charm. You can purchase The Key Collector’s Promise: A 1980s Suspense with Romance on Amazon, which released on September 6, 2024.

The Key Collector’s Promise is part of the Our House on Sycamore Street, a new multi-author, multi-genre series set in quaint and quirky Eden Cove, an English seaside town with plenty of spirit. With stories of redemption and salvation behind every door, you’re sure to find a new tale of romance, intrigue, humor or heart. All you have to do is knock!

Donna Jo Stone writes southern-flavored novels for the inspirational and general market for adults and young adults. Her stories are often about people facing tough times. Not all of her books have romance but when they do, the romances are sweet. No graphic language, sex, or violence, just plenty of heart-tugging emotion with endings that leave readers with a sense of hope.

When she’s not writing or reading, she spends her time hanging out with family and friends, and occasionally visits bookshops and fabric sales. 

You can learn more about Donna Jo by visiting her at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Avoiding Burnout: Interview with YA Author Gillian Bronte Adams

Burnout. It’s a consequence of producing books that authors don’t always consider. Today’s authors must juggle multiple roles, and often, multiple projects. What’s the best way to approach long-range planning to avoid becoming a casualty of burnout? Today I’m talking with YA author Gillian Bronte Adams.

DJS: You have several books out. What are your best tips for new (and experienced) authors about long-range planning?

GBA: Learn your writing habits and creative style. Are you driven by deadlines or does the pressure  drain you and leave you struggling to write? How good are you at multi-tasking—juggling drafting, marketing, edits, etc.? Which parts of the writing process excite and energize you and which feel like pulling teeth? Do you consistently overwrite or underwrite your first drafts? Would you consider yourself a fast or slow writer?

The more you learn about your personal writing habits and can identify your strengths, weaknesses, and creative personality, the better equipped you’ll be to evaluate each opportunity that comes your way, whether it’s a book contract, deadline, speaking engagement, or event. Trying to take on everything all at once or making decisions based on what others authors are doing (without taking your personal creative process into account) is one of the fastest paths I know to burning out.


DJS: How can writers avoid burnout?

GBA: I struggled with severe burnout while writing the second book in my current series. It was so disorienting to me, because it was a part of a series I’d been dreaming about writing for years and desperately loved, so I know the pain of burning out and the struggle of wondering if your creativity will ever come back. I think it’s vitally important to build rest times into your writing schedule. Writing is a marathon not a sprint. It requires serious discipline, but it’s also fueled by space to think and gain inspiration.

“Writing is a marathon not a sprint.”

If you wait until you’re continually running on empty, you’ll often need significantly longer to refuel than if you intentionally pause to fill up along the way. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is take a break.

One of the hardest things I’m still learning to evaluate is when my struggle with writing is just because writing is hard and I’m discouraged but can keep going—or when there’s something more severe (like burnout) setting in. That’s where learning to identify your personal writing habits and style helps so much, because you can get a feel for what’s a normal part of your process and what’s not and may be able to catch your own early warning signs of burnout.

I think it’s also important to be aware that burnout can be caused or exacerbated by elements in your life outside of writing. When that’s the case, simply stepping away from writing for a few days might not be enough. Being able to show yourself grace in that situation and, whenever possible, give space for your creativity to recover has to become a priority.

DJS: What are some of the challenges you faced as a multi-published author?

GBA: One of the biggest challenges I was unprepared for after signing my first series contract was how much multi-tasking would be required to draft the next book while editing the first book and promoting my debut launch. It was a crash course in learning to write and create on a deadline while shifting priorities as necessary, and I learned several lessons the hard way.

DJS: When writing gets hard, what do you do to encourage yourself or to recapture your enjoyment of writing?

GBA: Sometimes, I’ll read back over a favorite passage from a previous work, one that captures the heart of the project and helps me remember that we can get there eventually, even if it’s hard. I’ve also started making a list when I begin a new project with all of the things that excite me about the idea—specific scenes, moments between characters, elements of the world that ignite my imagination, etc. Reviewing that list when I’m discouraged reminds why I fell in love with the idea and can help me refocus on what’s really important.


DJS: If you could go back in time to the moment before you had your first book published, what advice would you give yourself?

GBA: Writing, marketing, and publishing require non-stop decision making. It can feel like each decision is the most important one, especially when you’re about to launch your debut. The decision fatigue can feel paralyzing and hinder you from making even simple choices. So learning to identify which decisions truly are important and deserve significant deliberation and which decisions are not going to be career altering and can be made “for now” is really helpful. I wish I’d known to approach it more like starting off on a journey as an author, as opposed to viewing becoming an author with that first book as my destination.

DJS: What great advice! Thank you for sharing your experiences and the wisdom you’ve gleaned along the way.

Do you have any upcoming projects you want to tell us about?

GBA: I am currently writing the final book in my YA epic fantasy series, The Fireborn Epic. It’s my ode to my favorite thick tomes like The Lord of the Rings and The Stormlight  Archive along with the many years I spent running the horsemanship program at a summer camp, so it has warriors who bond with magical warhorses, cinematic action sequences, and soul striking character arcs. The first two books are out now. I’ve been blown away by the love for this series and can’t wait for readers to be able to dive into the epic conclusion. 

Seas boil and jungles burn in Of Sea and Smoke, the tempestuous sequel to the award-winning Of Fire and Ash, where an outcast queen, royal rebel, captive priest, and their desperate band of warriors bonded with magical steeds battle a conquest-hungry empire and power-mad assassin. Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise, but he is done running from his past. Confronted with the evils of the emperor’s rule, he vows to fight, and the stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But those steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Gillian Bronte Adams writes epic fantasy novels, including the award-winning Of Fire and Ash and The Songkeeper Chronicles. She loves strong coffee, desert hikes, trying out new soup recipes on crisp fall nights, and searching for books that make her heart ache and soar in turn. When she’s not creating vibrant new worlds or dreaming up stories that ring with the echoes of eternity, she can be found off chasing sunsets with her horse, or her dog Took.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

The first novel in Donna Jo’s young adult series, Promise Me Tomorrow, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, released May 15th, and her Small Town Christian Domestic Suspense with Romance, The Key Collector’s Promise, releases September 6th . Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Uncategorized Writing for YA

Setting the Stage for Historical YA

It can be tricky to grab a reader and plunge them into a different world, and even more so for historical, since it’s necessary to weave in facts. There are so many things to consider! How do you get the setting just right without overwhelming the reader with too many details? How to you make it feel realistic?

Major on the Majors First

Providing intricate details of the year, the culture, the current fads of your time but neglecting to mention that it is fall or summer until six pages in will disorient the reader.

The Filter You Give the Reader

Everything in opening chapters establishes reader expectations. Everything on the page affects how your reader filters the rest of the book. If there are repeated mentions of music, readers will expect the character to be interested in music. If there are repeated mentions of literature, then literature. If there’s a mishmash of details, then a reader won’t know what to think about this character and may give up before reaching the end of chapter one.

Over Setting the Stage

I’ve read books and noted ten unique historical markers in less than four pages, things in addition to the usual description. Once established in a time period, I’m there. The next descriptions should add something to the story and help move it forward.

Interesting Factoids

Don’t use every nugget of research that you have. While details can be fascinating, they can also be overwhelming, do the opposite of the author’s intention of immersing the reader. Worse, it can make a reader feel that you have insulted their intelligence. At the very least, excessive dropping of historical details can bog down a story. If the information isn’t vital for the current story, leave it out so it doesn’t crowd out what you’re trying to convey.

Under Researching

While it’s easy to want to use all the historical details when we don’t need them in our story, a lack of research can also be problematic. Readers want an immersive experience, to stay engaged in the character’s plight. Historical errors yank them out of a story. Authors would be wise to do enough research to provide an authentic backdrop for their story.

Clever or Trendy

The current trend of dropping in literary references to classic books can work, but if excessive could backfire. As with all description, the author should ask themselves: Why is this here and how does it fit into the overall story? Is this description for description sake? Is it repetitive, redundant, or unneeded?

Tone

After you’ve set the stage it’s time to add a bit of shading to add authenticity. Research the vocabulary and speech patterns of your story’s era by reading novels, stories, and even looking up vocabulary tools from the time period. Although some language may need to be modernized for today’s readers, they won’t want a girl from the 1800s to sound too modern. At the same time, if writing historical for teens, it needs to have a young adult vibe as well. (Easier said than done!)

Start with these tips, and you will have a good start in setting up your historical fiction.

What do you think? Do you have any tips to add for setting the stage for historical fiction? Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

The first novel in Donna Jo’s young adult series, Promise Me Tomorrow, is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, released May 15th, and her Small Town Christian Domestic Suspense with Romance, The Key Collector’s Promise, releases September 6th .

Stephanie Daniels writes Christian historical fiction for young adults and the young at heart. Her debut novel, The Uncertainty of Fire, first appeared on Amazon’s Kindle Vella platform where it spent a number of months as one of the 250 top favorite stories and as the top story under the Christian tag.

Follow Stephanie on Amazon and stay tuned for the continuation of a new story in The Uncertain Riches series on Vella, and for future stand-alone young adult historical fiction books in her series. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B73RD41H

Though she currently lives in Southwest Missouri, she spent most of her youth moving every few years. She feels privileged to have seen some of the world and believes it probably encouraged her lively imagination. When not writing, she is studying God’s Word, spending time with her very supportive husband, homeschooling her three boys, and watching clean period dramas. And reading. Lots and lots of reading.

Categories
Writing for YA

Audiobook Production for Indies: Interview with YA Author Rachel Kovaciny

When I heard that Rachel Kovanciny recently worked with One Audiobooks to produce her guide: Explore Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel with Jane Eyre: A Christian Reader’s Guide, I had questions! Rachel graciously offered to answer them.

DJS: What made you decide to pursue having your books published in an audio format? For the indie author, what are the benefits of producing audiobooks?

RK: I know many, many readers who listen to audiobooks regularly. I had looked into the idea of creating audio versions of my books a few years ago, when audiobooks began gaining popularity, but hiring voice actors was cost-prohibitive for me. As an indie author, I have a very tiny budget. Another option would be to buy recording equipment and computer programs and do them myself, but I just don’t have the money for that, or the time. So, I gave up on the idea of creating audiobooks for my Once Upon a Western series.

Then One Audiobooks asked me to write a Christian reader’s guide for them. They’re creating a series of these guides to classic books that have Christian messages or themes, meant for teaching literature or for personal study. I wrote them a guide for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which is my favorite novel. They were so pleased with it, they decided to look at my fiction and see if my books might be a good fit for their customers. They offered me a contract, and here we are!

For indie authors, getting your books out to the widest audience possible is important. Audiobooks are a big segment of the market right now, so if an indie author can find a way to get audiobook editions of their books made, I strongly encourage them to do so!

DJS: What were some of the challenges authors face when considering audiobooks as a possibility?

RK:Money is the biggest challenge for an indie author, always. When it comes to audiobooks, you either need to pay a voice actor or buy the equipment to record the book yourself, or rent space and time at a recording studio. If One Audiobooks had not reached out and asked to work on these with me, my Once Upon a Western books would not have audiobooks in the works at all.

Of course, now places like Amazon are testing out AI voices for audiobooks, which seems like a real money saver until you think about the ethics behind it. And a lot of readers object so strongly to AI voices, they refuse to listen to audiobooks if they aren’t recorded by real people.

DJS: AI is certainly a sticky issue, and ethics is a big concern. I agree that anyone producing products should make sure they are being responsible. An easy or cheap fix isn’t always best.

Are there any reasons not to publish a book in audio format?

RK:Be sure you can afford the investment before you get started. Do a lot of research so you have realistic expectations of how long it will take to make back what you have spent.

DJS: I can see how it is a risk, especially with the investment coast. Having realistic expectations is a great piece of advice, as is doing your research. Always do your research!

Do you have a personal story or reason for wanting your books on audio?

RK:I have a friend who uses audiobooks in tandem with their print editions to help one of her kids who has reading difficulties. She slows the speed of the audiobook and her kid follows the words in the book with his eyes while hearing them. She says has been really helpful for him. He has dyslexia, and the combination of hearing words and seeing them at the same time helped him gain confidence for reading silently. I find that so awesome. 

I have another friend who also has a child who struggles with dyslexia. He loves books but rarely has time and patience to sit and read through one, so audiobooks are how he reads books outside school time. I hope these help my friends’ kids!

DJS: That is the best reason of all. I believe everyone should have access to books, whatever that looks like for them.

Thank you for talking with us, Rachel!

Do you like audiobooks? Listen to any great audiobooks lately? Leave a comment below.

Born only a few miles from where Jesse James robbed his first train, Rachel Kovaciny has loved westerns all her life. She is a Christian wife and mother, and homeschools her children. In her spare time, Rachel writes, reads, watches movies, and bakes brownies. Find out more about Rachel’s books at her website.  You may also find her on Instagram.

Join Rachel Kovaciny’s newsletter for updates about her books and her latest articles, and you’ll get a FREE copy of her Sleeping Beauty retelling, The Man on the Buckskin Horse! Sign up for her author newsletter.

Explore Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel with Jane Eyre: A Christian Reader’s Guide. Christian author Rachel Kovaciny provides discussion prompts, historical notes on the book and its author, and a breakdown and analysis of each chapter. This audiobook is a great resource for teaching literature or personal study.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles. The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2024.

To find out more, sign up for her newsletter at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Naming the Book Baby: How to Create a Compelling Title

My books rarely keep their working titles. This may be because the title wasn’t that great to start with, or because after the story evolves, it no longer fits.

A great title is part of what captivates readers, enticing them to pick up the book to find out more, but crafting the perfect title isn’t always easy.

I asked a couple of YA authors how they came up with the titles for their novels.

“If a book doesn’t come to me with a title already attached and I have to find one for it, I usually start by writing a list of the themes in the book and any symbolic objects. That’s how I found the titles for both Cloaked and One Bad Apple. 

If that doesn’t work, I’ll search through Shakespeare using OpenSourceShakespeare.org for words and phrases that apply to the book and see if he’s got anything cool I can use.

I also sometimes search through Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Proverbs looking for titles, often using BibleGateway.com. That’s how I found the title for My Rock and My Refuge.”

Rachel Kovaciny, Author of Western Fairytale Retellings

Stephanie Daniels, Author of YA Historical Fiction says:

“I tend to love titles with double meanings. If I can latch onto a theme that might also work as the outer goal for the character then that’s what I try to do.

I do a ton of word webbing when I brainstorm. And nothing is too obscure or ridiculous.

I also love when a character’s name can pull double duty.”

Other ideas for finding the perfect title:

Use metaphors or symbolism. For example, my upcoming release is titled The Key Collector’s Daughter. The key is a symbol of my character’s yearning for home and is an object of special significance. The literal key itself has a double meaning, because it means one thing to her father, but has an entirely different significance to her mother.

Use words that have strong emotional impact. Words like heartbreak, promise, lost, or any other word you can think of that evokes a strong feeling may be good contenders as part of a title.

Focus on setting or character. Some book titles incorporate a character’s name or the setting. As long as it’s descriptive and catchy, that can sometimes work well.   

Go for a memorable title. This one can be a bit tricky. If the title is too obscure or difficult to understand, readers won’t be drawn to it. If it’s too similar to what’s already out there (or if it’s already being used) it can cause confusion and frustration for the reader. Research in your genre and subgenre to see what titles work and aim for a variation, making your title unique enough to stand out, but familiar enough so customers are attracted to it. Consider a title that hints at genre, mood, setting, or some other element to pique interest.

Keep it concise. Long titles are hard to remember. Try to come up with a title that is descriptive but catchy.

Always ask for feedback. It’s hard to give up a title we become attached to, but it’s part of market research to ask others’ advice and opinions before committing to the final title. Survey your intended market and other authors. They’ll be happy to help.

Check your genre. For writers of young adult novels, it’s important to do the research and stay up to date on what title appeal to teens today. What worked in the past, or what works for other markets may not give authors of young adult fiction the competitive edge they need to succeed in the genre right now.

Keep these things in mind, and you’ll have a head start on coming up with a great title.

Do you have any additional tips on naming your book baby? Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles. The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025.Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, and her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, released May 15th.

Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Both Stephanie and Rachel are members of a Facebook group, Christian Fiction Readers and Authors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/T.YA.Christianfictionreadersandauthors

To find out more about Stephanie and her young adult historical fiction, including her book, The Uncertainty of Fire, visit her website at https://authorstephaniedaniels.com/

To find out more about Rachel’s Western Fairytale Retellings and her latest releases, including her recent release, The Man on the Buckskin Horse, you can visit her website at  http://www.rachelkovaciny.com/

Categories
Writing for YA

Interview with Contemporary YA Author Michelle Dykman

Young adult author Michelle Dykman isn’t afraid to tackle tough subject in her young adult novels. Her three book series is set at Bethel Private School, an environment many teens can relate to. Her characters make mistakes, find themselves in difficult situations, and ultimately find hope.

DJS: Why did you choose the setting of Bethel Private School, and the particular issues you did to write about?

MD: The Bethel Private School series came to me while I helped one of my ESL students in high school work through an English assignment. This incident led me to think about the many times a student had come to me with a problem to discuss, or used me as a sounding board. After roughly six years of teaching high school students, I wondered if there were books out there that could help these teens find their way to Christ, meeting them at the place where they were. I decided to write a series of books specifically for teens with characters facing the same challenges they were, with a message directing them to the Greatest Problem Solver of all – Jesus Christ.

DJS: Did you learn anything about yourself as you wrote the series?

MD: I learned a lot about myself and relived many of my less than positive high school experiences. It also allowed me to see how far I have come from those days, and how much maturity gives perspective. God was good to me when I was a teen. He is still good to me today. The series allowed me to see how much more teens are facing today and how much society has influenced the path of mental health issues in teens. My research has given me a bit more insight into the challenges my own children face, as well as the ones I see in classroom each day.

DJS: Your YA books are about some pretty serious topics. Were you surprised or shocked by anything you learned about as you were writing/researching?

MD: My husband and I have been involved with teen ministry for a number of years and I have seen, heard and discovered far more than I would have liked to about the students I taught in Sunday School and youth group as well as in class. I make it my motto to not shock easily, as this is a surefire way to discourage a teen from discussing an uncomfortable topic with you, or sharing anything they are ashamed of. Many teens have spoken to me because I don’t judge. We all make mistakes. I always want to create a safe space for a teen to share their struggles with me.

DJS: What is the main thing you would like young readers to take away from your books?

MD: Jesus Christ. In all my books there is a very clear gospel message on which direction to turn when life is too much or problems seem too great. My main motivation in writing all my books is that teens would find Christ and know no matter what they have done or where they have gone, they are never too far that God cannot find them or they cannot turn or return to Him. I want teens to know the freeing message of the gospel. I also hope that if they see the consequences of my characters choices, it might make them think twice before making the same mistake.

DJS: What is the main things you would like parents and teachers to understand about relating to teens?

MD: One thing I would like parents and teachers a like to understand about teens is that they are going to make mistakes. No matter how many times they are cautioned, warned, or dissuaded, somewhere down the line they are going to mess up. There are two ways an adult can react. You can go through the various stages of “I told you so” and lose your teens trust in you, or you can come alongside them by using that opportunity to show them to Christ and help them to understand that no matter what they have done there is always forgiveness. Lovingly remind them that although their choice will have consequences, your love and God’s love for them remain unchanged. I think sometimes we, as adults, forget being a teen is such a confusing time of life. We would rather forget it ever happened. The more time I spend with teens, the more I realize, sometimes it does us well to remember that not all the choices we made at a young age were great.

Michelle Dykman is a reader, teacher, and debut author of If These Stars Could Talk.
After spending ten years crunching numbers, Michelle discovered her two true passions, teaching and writing Clean and Wholesome Christian Romance novels for adults and teens. Michelle lives with her husband and two boys in the snowy and sometimes hot rural areas of Canada. From time to time, she misses the dry warmth of her home country, South Africa. 

About the series: Being a teen is tough no one knows this better than high school friends Willow Rysen, Candace Hillman and Amy Carter. These friends navigate peer pressure, an unplanned pregnancy, and finding their faith at a time when life is confusing, the future is daunting, and the answers to life’s questions are far from easy.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, and her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, releases May 15th. 

Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Planning a Novel Series: Interview with YA Fantasy Author V. Romas Burton

V. Romas Burton is the author of two fantasy series, Heartmaker and The Legacy Chapters. Her latest release, Justified, is book two in The Legacy Chapters. I asked her to share a little bit about her experiences writing a series.

DJS: Writing one novel can be daunting, and I imagine a series can only be more so! What pros and cons about planning a series did you learn as you went through the process?

VRB: There have been a lot of both pros and cons along the way. One pro is that once I know the ending to my series, I can usually find my way from the beginning. A con I’ve learned is that sometimes “pantsing” (not planning out the events in your story), is not always the best route when trying to make it to the end!

DJS: I can understand the pansting issue. Sadly, I’ve taken the route of not enough plotting before sitting down to write. That method didn’t work well for me, although one of my critique partners swears by it. As you planned your series, what did you learn about the process that surprised you? And now that you’ve produced a series, is there anything you would do differently?

VRB: I’ve learned that sometimes your story doesn’t end up where you originally thought. Sometimes a better plot line is uncovered or a new twist is added that makes the story richer. Now that I’ve produced a series I would probably look a bit closer at my characters’ development and really try to make those solid and relatable. 

DJS: Trying to figure out where to begin or what resources to start with can be overwhelming. Where do you suggest authors find help planning a series?

VRB: I would recommend attending a writers’ conference to take some classes and also to meet other like-minded authors. It’s always helpful to have people to bounce ideas off of when you’re not sure what to do next. I also recommend reading through your favorite series with the eyes of an author, not a reader, and see how your favorite author crafts their story over the span of two or more books.

DJS: That’s great advice. I always recommend reading. What are your three favorite YA series? Why do you think you like them so much?

VRB: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

This was the series that introduced me to YA Fantasy and ultimately made me a writer.

The Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber

I love Stephanie Garner’s descriptions and how she crafts her stories.

This isn’t technically a series, but I love all of Jane Austen’s books. Her stories and characters have influenced my writing in many ways.

DJS: You can never go wrong with Austen. (And I think The Lunar Chronicles and The Caraval Series are also great picks.)

Thanks so much for visiting with us!

Find future book updates and news on V. Romas Burton’s website: www.vromasburton.com

V. Romas Burton grew up bouncing up and down the East Coast where she wrote her first story about magical ponies at age seven. Years later, after studying government and earning an M.A. in Theological Studies, V. Romas Burton realized something even bigger was calling out to her—stories that contained great adventures and encouraging messages.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, and her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, releases May 15th. 

Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Interview With YA Author Tabitha Caplinger

Tabitha Caplinger is the author of The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy, The Wolf Queen and, most recently, The Wayward. I talked with her recently about her writing and about how authors can approach writing stories with Christian themes.

DJS: Writing novels can be a daunting task, and it can be hard to stay motivated. What inspires you to write for the young adult age group? 

TC: I was a youth pastor for twenty years. I have such a heart for teens and young adults, and a desire to see them discover and live for their purpose on purpose. Stories have become a way to not just entertain, but challenge and encourage them to live chosen—to know God and make Him known.

DJS: Some novels are labeled inspirational or Christian, while other containing Christian themes are not. What do you feel makes a novel Christian?

TC: For me, it’s all about perspective. I don’t think a novel needs to be overt or preachy to share Biblical truth and point readers to the heart of Jesus. Jesus is the center of who I am and everything I do. I always say if our life is a pie, Jesus isn’t a slice of the pie, He’s the filling. Just like He flavors all parts of my life, He flavors my writing. Sometimes it will be a little more between the lines than others’ but I want His heart and values to shine through. 

DJS: Tell me a little about your process. When you set out to write a novel, how do you discover the story’s core message? 

TC: I start with the story first and let any themes or message happen organically. Whatever sparks my imagination, I begin to ask questions. Who is this about? Where do they live? What is the conflict they are facing? What journey will they take?

I research and outline until I have the main story points down.

Then I start writing. As I flesh out details and get inside my characters’ heads—learning their motivations, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. That’s when the message tends to emerge. 

DJS: What are some key things authors should keep in mind when they feel they have a calling to deliver a specific message to their readers?

TC: I really believe that the story should come first. Readers are more likely to connect with the message if they are connecting to the characters. Do they feel real? Can I empathize with them? Do I care about what they are facing? Weave the message in through their emotions, thoughts, and actions. If we want the message to stick with readers we have to get it into their hearts, and we do that by connecting their hearts with the hearts of characters. Those emotional connections open us up to the deeper truths being presented, even subtly.

Thank you, Tabitha!

Check out Tabitha’s website, tabithacaplinger.com, where readers can subscribe to Tabitha’s newsletter and stay in the loop about upcoming releases.

Tabitha Caplinger is a lover of good stories and helping others live chosen. When she’s not writing book words, she’s reheating her coffee, binging a new show or teaching God’s Word to students. Tabitha, her husband and two beautifully sassy daughters desire to be Jesus with skin on for those around them. They live to love others…and for Marvel movies.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, released Feb 1st, and her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, releases May 15th. 

Stay in touch and receive the latest news by signing up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Tell Me Again, Why Do We do This Writing Thing?

My thoughts are still marinating on the past year. I’m ticking off half-done accomplishments and not-so-successful projects. This type of evaluation can be disheartening, and seems all too common among my writing friends.

One such friend said recently, “Tell me again why we do this.”

I immediately replied, “We do it for love.”

Then I stole some song lyrics from “The Glory of Love.” (I may have sung them.)

The advice in the song isn’t half bad. At the risk of sounding corny in this post, I’m going with the idea of taking, giving, and of course, the inevitable heartbreaking writers encounter, and plan to apply it to the coming year.

Take a Little Instruction

Trying to learn a skill without listening to instruction is a natural recipe for disaster, yet it’s oh-so-tempting to forgo the process of continuing education to become a writer. After all, people start talking and figuring out language before they can brush their teeth, and storytelling isn’t far behind. However, for most of us, producing a great work requires a bit of skill sharpening. There are exceptions, but in my experience, to create words that connect with readers in a deep way takes a huge effort.

I suspect this is why my piano teacher used to say, “Practice makes perfect.” As far as I can tell, practice doesn’t always lead to perfection, but generally produces improvement in whatever I’m tackling.

Take a Little (or Big) Chance

From the moment pen is put to paper or fingers to keyboard, this writing gig is about taking chances. Even in the musings I share with no one but myself, the act of writing challenges me to think, examine my beliefs, and clarify those thoughts on paper. Sometimes this process shakes my world. That’s taking a chance.

If I want to learn and grow, develop the ability to create a marketable product for wider consumption, sharing the work for critique is necessary. This sharing business sounds fine and dandy until a mentor, critique partner, or random beta readers I connected with on the internet cut too close to the bone.

I’m suspicious of anyone who says harsh dissection of their work doesn’t bother them. The truth is, criticism stings, and harsh criticism can wound. Oftentimes, it hurts because there is a nugget—or shovelful—of truth in the feedback. Facing possible negative reaction to our work is part of the creative life. Without taking that chance and asking for feedback and opinions, I won’t know if my prose conveys what I meant it to. (Not that an author should take every criticism to heart.)

If an author is brave enough to share a finished book, poem, song, or article with the world, they risk rejection and ridicule in the form of bad reviews and negative comments. But there’s no other way to be heard, except to take the chance.

Give a Little to the Writing Community

To be successful, not only does a writer need to take advice, I feel they should give back to the community. This helps others and it helps the author. Giving back can grow a support network, and working with the right group is a valuable experience, propelling an author’s writing to the next level.

Give a Little and Adjust Your Expectations

I’ve had to give a little on my plans. My journey simply refuses to stick to the carefully plotted road plan. There have been detours, bumps, unexpected tragedies—and treasures—scattered along the way. As long as I do my best and keep moving forward, I can be please with my progress, even if it doesn’t follow the prescribed path.

I heard someone once say, “To get to where you are going, you have to go through whatever it takes to get to the destination.”

Let Your Heart Break a Little

Rejections, bad reviews, poor sales. Authors face all of these, along with long work hours and criticism of all sorts. If that weren’t enough heartbreak, in order to produce a moving story, writers must invest enough in the characters to make the reader care. Authors pour real emotions on the page, impart real messages that we may well end up crying over. Our hearts break over a topic or issue and that’s what we write about, because without passion a story is just a story. So why do we do it?

For many of us, it’s because we have a message, we care, we need to be seen and heard, to deliver a truth to the reader who needs our words.

And that’s the story of … why we write. (At least part of why I write.)

Why do you write? Leave a comment and let me know.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Her short romance, A Wedding to Remember, releases Feb1st, and her adult 1960s inspy romance, JOANN: Apron Strings Books 5, releases May 15th. Both are available for pre-order on Amazon.

Find out more about upcoming releases and events by signing up for her newsletter at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Uncategorized Writing for YA

Interruption of Plans or Ordained Opportunity

It’s the end of December, and for me, that means it’s time to pull out a fresh, ginormous, old-fashioned office calendar for the new year and start planning. I have gleefully begun to fill in the calendar’s little boxes.

I love to dream up a plan.

I love shiny new calendars with pristine white blocks waiting for to-do lists. I love highlighters and color-coding. In other words, I am a true believer in organization. The funny thing about plans is, a lot of times it doesn’t matter how carefully I lay out goals, something always happens to delay progress or completely derail me. Or send me off in a new direction.

That’s what happened this past year. I’d been praying for direction for some time. The time-consuming process of querying, getting requests for fulls, then getting the eventual rejections, had left me discouraged. This, combined with the state of the publishing industry, had me seriously considering self-publishing. I asked my writer friends to pray with me about what direction I should take.

After much prayer and research, I stopped querying and got busy amassing all the information I could about self-publishing, started formulating a plan, and even took a few baby steps, such as lining up an editor for the first book in my YA Contemporary series, but none of my methods were really helping me move forward in a substantial way.

Then an interruption came, or was it an opportunity?

I got a message from Jenny Knipfer, an author I’d met through reading her book and posting a review, (which I think is a pretty neat way to meet someone.) She wanted to know if I was interested in a multi-author collaboration. My immediate response was “Yes!” even though it wasn’t a YA project. I felt confident in accepting because the timing was perfect. It was an answer to prayers. A divine assignment. I’m still writing my young adult fiction and will publish at least one young adult novel in 2024, but I’d also been thinking of writing more in the time period of the book she requested. (1960s)

I can get so focused on my self-designated goals that I have trouble discerning the difference between an interruption and an opportunity, but this was a flashing neon sign.

Taking advantage of this offer was the push I needed to learn the things I needed to learn to independently publish. Signing on to the Apron Strings project forced me to prioritize what must be done and let go of what wasn’t absolutely necessary. Left to my own devices, I likely would have continued to research and weigh options. At the time Jenny contacted me, I had over-organized my plans to the point that I had a huge file on all things self-publishing, but had become overwhelmed and had stagnated. Perhaps the Apron Strings project was a heavenly kick in the pants, a get a move on, already.

It seemed like a situation tailored just for me, with a built-in support group, a few directions, and a shorter to-do list than my massive file.

I desperately needed that shove.

I’m not saying I’ll ever throw all planning out the door and just wait for favorable circumstances to appear. If I had done such a thing, I wouldn’t have been able to jump in when the opportunity presented itself. All of my previous research and attempts at organizing a publishing and marketing plan served me well.

I knew in my gut this was a gift, and God meant for me to step out. It still took faith. I didn’t feel ready. And I don’t feel ready now, but I finished writing book five for the Apron Strings series in plenty of time, and have hit all the required deadlines so far. Even so, it’s a daily faith walk, because there is so much I don’t know, and there is always more to learn. I suspect it will always be this way. I’ll never have a plan solid enough to account for all contingencies or keep me in my comfort zone, but that’s okay.

One of my new writing goals for 2024 is to be ready to hear, recognize, and respond. The next time a side project comes up, I hope I’ll remember to stay open and pray about it, not immediately discount an opportunity as an interruption.

What about you? How do you discern the difference between interruptions and opportunities?

The Apron Strings Book Series is a collection of heartfelt inspirational stories connected by one cookbook, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020. A new book will be released every month in 2024. Donna Jo’s book, Joann, is book five in the series and releases May 15th, 2024.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles. The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2024.

To find out more, sign up for her newsletter at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

How to Avoid Writing a Contrived Plot

I’ve been working on a story, and was a bit concerned my ending felt contrived. In my critique group, we discussed it a little, but I couldn’t come to a clear conclusion. I decided to study the topic and attempt to untangle this particular knot. I thought I’d share the list I came up with on how to identify a contrived plot or scene.

Out of the Blue Behavior

The protagonist (or antagonist) suddenly does something out of character with no explanation. He or she acts in a way that doesn’t line up with what readers know about the character, or they change core beliefs for no discernible reason, or do other odd things for no other reason than to provide a solution to a story problem.

Who’s Driving This Thing?

The story is propelled by circumstantial events happening to the protagonist rather than the protagonist being the catalyst. When I first started writing, I tended to throw obstacles into my story from outside the character, visiting terrible tragedy on them. I was blessed to have a mentor who helped me understand that the protagonist didn’t just need troubles, they must have a goal.

Check to make sure the main character is the captain of his or her own ship. They should try to procure what they want or need to solve their problem. As the story progresses, the protagonist faces obstacles, some of which are overcome, some of which are not.

I Need a Hero

At the eleventh hour, an unlikely hero comes galloping up on a white horse. He wasn’t in the story before, or perhaps only showed up in chapter three for two minutes. If he takes on such a vital role at the conclusion, it might be a good idea to dig into the manuscript in order to develop that character and his storyline. Then, hopefully, the resolution will unfold naturally in a realistic or logical way. This was the fix my current story required. I added interactions with the character, enhanced the setup, and viola!

Too Many Hidden Details

Sometimes it may feel like the plot is contrived because there’s not enough information given up front. If a character appears to make choices simply to get the author out of a plot pickle, a bit of backstory could shed light on the character’s behavior.

Here’s an example. Mrs. Susie Sunshine is the kindest soul you’ll ever meet, but treats her elderly mother with a lack of respect bordering on contempt. The reader is going to want to know why.

If Susie has a deep dark secret in her past that explains her actions, suddenly the story makes sense, and becomes more interesting to boot. Dropping hints about the main character’s backstory at key moments and providing an eventual airing of the issue will make for a satisfying resolution.

Sometimes an undeveloped character leads to a contrived plot. Developing a character may happen before a writer drafts, along the way, in the editing stage, or a combination of all three. It all depends on the author’s process.

The Charmed Life

A character has a charmed life, strolls through the story, never having to work for success. Solutions fall into his lap. He meanders along his way, riding the wave of good luck all the way to his happy ending. The problem here is no conflict, and possibly no goal or stakes.

Convenient Coincidences

There are too many coincidences, where the character gets necessary information by “just happening” to overhear conversations, randomly bumps into the person with the perfect solution or advice, becomes lost only to miraculously end up exactly where they need to be, and so on.

To check for these, I ask myself what would happen in the narrative if there were no coincidences? Is there a way to move the story forward without using the coincidences? Can the characters be given histories to explain these things? 

In Defense of Side Trips

Suppose you’re writing a discovery type draft and toss in a random coincidence to bring the story back into line for your vision. Is that a bad thing? Not always. It could be an opportunity to add layers or interest, or to explore an entirely new direction. As long as there’s enough set up and the unfolding events conclude with logic, it might shake out. In this type of writing situation, I might consider dropping in backstory and see how the story develops, then decide if it works.

The Coincidental Ending

Some genres lend themselves to coincidental endings, and some don’t. Check your genre. Even in inspirational fiction, leaning too heavily on divine intervention may fall flat. Readers want a character they can root for, characters who make choices, and then eventually find their way to a solution.

Years ago, I read a novel by a popular author and the concluding chapters suddenly took a weird sci-fi detour to explain the story. The event tying all the threads together felt out of the blue and of another genre. These contortions were necessary for the story to make any kind of sense. But I didn’t buy it. I was not happy, to say the least. I never read another book by this author.

That’s not the reaction I want from my readers. Do you have anything to add to this list about uncovering a contrived plot?

Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

Categories
Writing for YA

Interview with Christy Finalist Sarah Watterson

Sara Watterson’s young adult novel, The Dreamer, was recently named as a Christy Award finalist for 2023. I thought I’d ask her a little about her books, her process, and her reaction to finding novel was in the running!

DJS: What did you find the most challenging about writing and publishing This Dreamer? 

SW: Time! There were many challenges, but finding the time to focus was number one. I spent a long and slow six years planning, writing, and editing This Dreamer. Back then, my three kids kept me busy, and they still do. They’re in middle and high school now, and they love being involved in just about everything, which means I’m involved in just about everything. In some ways, life is easier now that they’re teens and tweens, but in other ways, it’s harder. Time (and adolescent emotions) are still a struggle. 

DJS: I can certainly relate to that. It seems time management is one of the big issues for authors in every season of life.

Novel writing takes a huge amount of commitment.

Encouragement and inspiration can help an author along the way. Where did you find the encouragement and inspiration required to undertake novel writing?


SW: I fell in love with fantasy books in college, and I’ve known since then that if I ever wrote one, it would be a fantasy novel. When I finally set out to do it, it was through prayer, my husband, and my writing partner that I found the much-needed motivation to keep going and finish that first draft!

DJS : Having your novel, The Dreamer,  selected as a Christy Award Finalist must have been exciting! What was your initial reaction when you heard the news?


SW: I was shocked! I still am! It’s surreal to see my book cover displayed alongside those of more established authors on the Christy Award website. The organization emailed me to let me know while my family and I were out of town. I had determined to unplug for the weekend, so I didn’t discover the news until Sunday when others congratulated me. I was so confused and thought they must have mistaken me for someone else. I’m truly honored to be a finalist!

DJS: That must’ve been something! What a wonderful surprise! I’m so excited for you.

This Dreamer is the first in a planned series. Can you tell us how many books there will be by the series end?


SW: The Chronicles of the Marked is set to be a duology, so there will be one more book. But I have notes for a possible prequel and a few companion pieces. We’ll see! 

DJS: Making finalist is a great accomplishment. It might be a sign to keep the series going! Congratulations, Sara. Thanks so much for taking time to talk with us about writing.

Sara Watterson is a fiction writer, author of uplifting and clean young adult science fiction and fantasy. She also teaches digital art to high school students while managing her growing website, bookseriesrecaps.com. When not writing, teaching, or enjoying her kids’ many activities, Sara likes reading on the back porch, drinking coffee, and hanging out with her super-cute hubby. Sara lives in central Oklahoma with her husband and three children.

About Sara’s novel, The Dreamer

Evie grows restless observing mortals from afar. When a friend offers to smuggle her by portal into the human world, she jumps at the opportunity. Secretly, though, she also hopes to observe Adan, the human Dreamer. But trouble awaits after her captivating adventure and delayed return. Not only did she take an unsanctioned trip to the ground, but now the boy, the Dreamer, is missing, and her director believes she is to blame.

Donning a human body, Evie must return to the human world and find Adan before her way home is sealed. All while wrestling unfamiliar human emotions and a growing suspicion she’s caught in a larger plan already at play.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

How and Why to Host Giveaways: Interview with Ya Author Callie Thomas

We all know marketing is a must. One of the tools authors can use to gain traction is hosting a giveaway. Today I’m talking with YA author Callie Thomas about her experiences participating in and running giveaways.

DJS: Tell us a little about why you decided to do giveaways, and what are some of the benefits. 

CT: I love doing giveaways and offering something special for my readers. It’s a great way to give back to my followers, network with other authors, and hook new readers that might have been on the fence before. Giveaways are a great marketing technique that can be just affective as ads to get your name and books in the public eye.

DJS: What should an author expect to gain from running a giveaway?

CT: Usually there is something a contestant must do in order to get their name put in the drawing pool. It can be anything from signing up for a newsletter, following social media accounts, viewing an author page or book page, or just sharing the giveaway with people they know. The best thing an author can expect is to gain followers on social media platforms. In this way, they can get to know you better and learn more about your books. There is a need to earn a reader’s trust before they make a purchase, and it might take seeing posts about an author’s books numerous times before they purchase anything.

DJS: It seems there are endless possibilities for giveaways. The ones that are a little different seem to stick in my mind. What’s some of the most unique giveaways you’ve seen?

CT: I’ve seen some weird giveaways! I’ve seen ones for virtual Zoom meetings with the author, copies misprinted books, and having a character named after or based on the winner. Personally, I like to stick with ebook or signed paperback giveaways versus monetary giveaways. Gift cards can attract giveaway hunters who are only looking for free handouts. Unfortunately, they aren’t interested in your books, only freebies. Don’t use #giveaway or similar hashtags or you’ll attract freebie hunters.

DJS: With all the demands on author’s time, effort, and funds, marketing can be a real drain, stealing time from writing. How can authors maximize their return of investment regarding giveaways?

CT: Start small and stay within your budget. If you are giving away a book, choose one that is a series starter. This can lead to the purchase of the other books in your series. Try to make the giveaway as easy as possible. The more complicated the instructions, the less entries you’ll have. Make sure you are posting about the giveaway in your socials and interacting with participants. Be patient! Remember that it takes time to grow your audience.

Don’t forget to factor in worldwide readers. It costs more to ship outside of your country, but make sure to do a giveaway for them everyone once in a while to show them appreciation, too.

DJS: Do you have any recommended resources or tips for authors who want to do a giveaway?

Having a good platform to use for giveaways is a must. Make websites or other methods of entering easy to navigate. Even with the best prizes and amazing marketing, if the user can’t figure out how to enter it’s all for nothing. I recently switched to KingSumo (https://kingsumo.com/) and have been enjoying their product.

Thanks so much for sharing this information with us, Callie!

Callie Thomas was born in California but moved away immediately after, living in more places in the United States than she can remember. Even now, she can’t stay in one spot. Callie has been writing since middle school when her teacher caught her writing stories instead of vocabulary words in her 7th grade English class. Callie recently published her first Vella series, A Forest of Stolen Memories & A Sea of Golden Chains, and has more books in the works.

You can visit Callie’s website at www.authorcalliethomas.com.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Writing Characters Readers Connect With Part Two

Last time we talked about some ways to write a character that evokes a deep connection with the reader. Today’s article is a continuation. You can read part one here.

Character Worksheets

Has anyone ever said you need to do some character work? Did they suggest character worksheets and interviews? I can almost hear seat-of-the-pants writers groaning. Do I have to?

It depends. If filling out questionnaires about characters background feels like a waste of time to and the idea is repugnant, it’s perfectly acceptable to fill in characters’ history while writing the draft or during editing. The process can be as neat and structured from day one as the author wants it to be, or it can be messy.

There are no First Draft Police

The point is, a character needs to have life experiences, beliefs, history, cultural influences, deeply held moral beliefs, and a multitude of other things that impact their behavior in the story world. All these details are given in tiny bits along the way and provide a riche experience for the reader.

When I read a story, if I don’t get to travel on the emotional journey with a character, I quickly become frustrated. I expect to have a deeper and deeper understanding as the story goes along.

Finding The Stress Points and The Quiet Times

Does this mean you have to rewrite your whole story? No. Look for the places where the character is under a great deal of stress, especially emotional stress. Drop in a few lines of backstory, reactions, their belief system, what they think and feel in that moment. No need to overdo it. Do the same for quieter moments that naturally lend themselves to introspection.

I enjoy using this method to discover things about my characters. Two or three sentences that fit into the story in an organic way can reveal much about the deeper aspects and inner life of my main character.

I went through my first manuscript and made notes that mostly said, What is she feeling or thinking here?

Explaining what my character was feeling and thinking improved the story immensely, but in the next round of edits, adding in crumbs of backstory and rounding my character gave the whole novel a depth previously missing. Now I had a character my readers could understand. At this point, I needed to make sure the character was relatable, and give my readers someone to empathize with. (The character will also need a goal, which I talked about in a previous post on GMC.)

If you feel your work is lacking in the emotional exploration department, go ahead and put it all on the page. Don’t hold back, and don’t worry about too much introspection during the drafting or editing phase. If a writer goes overboard, it’s easy to trim.

These tips won’t guarantee you’ll get the coveted acceptance letter, but if you assess your manuscript and realize that these things are missing, going deeper with your character will improve your manuscript.

Do you have any tips for evoking a deep emotional connection with readers? Leave me a comment.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

Categories
Writing for YA

Five Things You Must Do To Reach Teen Readers

Sometimes it’s hard to remember all the emotions, feelings, and concerns that young teens have. Times change, attitudes change, technology changes, but some things remain the same. A wise author taps into universal truths to write a compelling story that resonates with readers.

Consider the Concerns of Your Audience

It’s not enough to care about teen and preteen readers. To reach them, authors must connect. Young readers want to know that the things they care about are being addressed. 

Ask the teens in your life what they’re worried about. The issues today’s teens deal with seem far from what previous generations faced, but commonalities exist. The same threads are woven throughout coming-of-age stories, because all people go through some predictable processes, experiences, and emotions as they mature. There are variations but there are just as many, if not more, similarities. The trick is to translate past experience into material relevant and accessible to today’s readers. Stretch yourself and find the connection, a way to relate to what your audience is going through right now. Dig deep, draw on the experiences of your own adolescence, and make specific applications to the best of your ability. 

Talk to People

If an author chooses to ignore the concerns and fears at the forefront of their audience’s mind, they risk a disconnect. If you’re unsure or unaware of the issues, start a conversation with a favorite teen or two (or three). Teenagers are not always the most forthcoming of conversationalists—depending on who they’re talking to—but give them a chance to express themselves by going to the source first, your target reader. Listen to what they have to say. Then, ask teachers and youth counselors what they feel are the most important issues facing young people today. 

Have a Sensitive Heart

Once you’ve found an issue you want to address, approach it with sensitivity, caring, and compassion. No one wants to be preached at, talked down to, or lectured. This is true no matter the age of your audience.

Make good use of beta readers and critique partners. Ask them to look for places that are preachy or heavy-handed. Enlist the help of a sensitivity reader when needed.

Be Authentic 

Everyone has been disappointed, suffered a loss, felt misunderstood, felt lost, failed, been embarrassed, and so on. Without authentic emotion, it’s difficult for a reader to become invested in a story. The saying is true, No tears in the writer, No tears in the reader. Don’t be afraid of powerful emotions. Capture them and put them on the page.

Go Beyond Surface Research

Understand the culture and attitudes of your audience, going beyond the surface. What’s popular today may be obsolete tomorrow. Points of view, ways of seeing the world, and cultural influences can have more of a lasting impact than trends. It’s important to know where people are coming from, how they interpret their environment. If an author doesn’t understand their intended audience, they aren’t likely to reach them.

If your story is contemporary, by the time it goes to press current fads may have fallen out of fashion. Stick to describing details that will remain the same for a few years or longer and avoid anything trendy. On the other hand, if you want to date your writing, use details firmly establishing your story in a particular time period.

Keep your eye on the prize. Writing for young adults is a calling. It’s an opportunity to have a tremendous influence on the future and change lives with the potential to have a lasting impact.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary and adult historical fiction. She writes about tough issues but always ends her stories on a note of hope. Her novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

The first book in Donna Jo’s young adult series is scheduled for publication in 2025, and her adult inspirational novella, Book Five in The Apron Strings Series, will release in May of 2024. You can find out more at  donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Talking About Microfiction with Sci-Fi YA Author Sophia Hanson

Today I’m talking with Sci-Fi YA author and fellow columnist here on Almost an Author, Sophia Hanson, about microfiction. I reached out to her after noticing her microfiction on Instagram. I have a love-hate relationship with microfiction. Fitting a piece of writing into the limited perimeters is hard enough, but toss in a time constraint and it requires some major flexing of those writing muscles!

DJS: Was the month-long Instagram challenge the first time you’d tried microfiction? 

SH: I’d tried microfiction once or twice in response to Instagram contests. Cassandra Hamm holds prompt contests quarterly. They are tons of fun. I’d never done a month-long challenge before, but wanted to push myself to do the next hard thing. Thirty-one days of posting new content to prompts was definitely out of my comfort zone, and I decided to learn how to include images in the posts. I learned about Canva, tagging, and writing even when I didn’t feel inspired.

DJS: What was the hardest thing about producing microfiction? 

SH: Including a whole idea/world within those fifty words, but sometimes it was just as hard to land on fifty, not forty-seven or forty-nine.

DJS: I can certainly agree with that! The exacting word count of microfiction had left me blinking at my computer screen a time or two.

In what ways did writing microfiction affect and benefit your writing?

SH: I love learning how to write tight, and I love writing to prompts. It’s a great challenge, especially when you’ve been working on a larger piece, because it helps to reset your brain and refresh those creative juices.

DJS: If someone wants to try out writing microfiction, what is your best advice before they start?

SH: I totally recommend following hashtags like #50wordfiction, #50wordstories, etc. on Instagram. It’s a great learning lab and you’ll find out about the various prompt contests there. 

DJS: After the challenge, Sophia made use of her work in a unique way. She printed and bound her Thirty-One Days in October and gave it out as gifts, like a book of poetry! Now that’s a wonderful and clever idea. I’d love to get such a gift, wouldn’t you?

Sophia Hansen is an organic author—using no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides in her writing unless absolutely convenient. She’s lived on a tiny island in Alaska, the bustling cities of New York and Boston, and now resides in the Southeast where she writes between fresh(ish) cups of coffee and slices of bacon. After 30+ years of marriage, seven children, and numerous pets, Sophia can still fit into her high school earrings.

Water’s Break, Sophia’s debut YA Sci-Fi novel is scheduled to be published by Enclave Escape in January 2024.

Find out more about Sophia and her writing at her website, SophiaLHansen

Sophia is a flash fiction author, and is also an editor with Havok Publishing. You can find some of her stories in the Havok archives and anthologies at GoHavok. She writes the A3 genre column for Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Passive NOT passive

Note from Donna Jo: The topic of critique pet peeves came up during a conversation in my weekly writing group. One of my critique partners, Andra Loy, pointed out how misunderstanding passive voice can trip up writers. It seems to be a common issue, so I asked her to explain it in a blog post to share here. Andra is a prepublished novelist, award winning author, English teacher, and fabulous critique partner.

Writing communities and critique groups are lifesavers. If no one had shared what they’d learned with me, I’d still be at the Run, Dick, Run stage with my writing. But advice, passed along and along, can become like the game of Telephone (or Post Office, whatever you called it as a kid). By the end, the “rule” is nothing like what it started as, and then it becomes as pernicious as gossip.

Here’s how the game plays out. Take, for instance, the following advice:

ACTIVE VOICE IS BETTER THAN PASSIVE VOICE.

Strong verbs help us avoid adverbs and show agency for our characters. Passivity is a bad thing. Great advice.

Kyle, a professional editor, tells Lisa to avoid passive voice.

Lisa nods. Grammar was her favorite topic in high school. Passive voice is when the subject isn’t doing the action.Lisa finds a clear example to help her remember.

The leaf is blown by the wind across the road.

The leaf —the subject of the sentence—isn’t actually doing anything. Passive leaves let the invisible wind do all the work.

Lisa tells Barb to avoid passive voice. Barb scratches her head and tries to remember her English classes. Back in seventh grade, she was busy passing notes and not listening. To explain, Lisa says, “Like in the sentence, The leaf is blown by the wind across the road.”Barb gets it now. She goes through her manuscript and finds all the sentences with this construction and replaces them. The wind now blows all her leaves.

Barb passes the reminder on to Alex. “No passive voice.” Alex nods. He’s heard of passive voice. His English teacher went through his essay on ancient weaving techniques and crossed out all his “to be” verbs. Good thing he remembers the list: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. He opens his manuscript. The first sentences are “Brian found Valerie in the library. She was reading War and Peace.” Alex deletes the passive WAS and writes, Brian found Valerie in the library. She read War and Peace.

Now we have a big problem. “Was reading” is not passive voice. It’s one of the verb tenses. The very valid, needed verb tense, past continuous/past progressive, indicates that action is in progress. It’s a huge clue to setting the scene and helping the reader figure out the TIMING of the action. Unfortunately, it uses the “to be” verb together with the -ing form of the main verb so we often sweep it up into the Passive Trash Bag.

If Valerie read War and Peace after Brian finds her, he’s going to have to wait a very long time. If she’s in the process of reading it, then he interrupts her and our plot may continue.

Not every case of “to be” indicates passive voice. Purging a manuscript of every “to be” verb deprives readers of the verb tense clues that orientate them to ongoing action, the timing of action, and the setting.

Of course, overuse of anything is to be cautioned against.

Now that was passive voice.

Andra Loy writes YA fantasy and speculative fiction for adults. She teaches English in the Czech Republic, where she was locked inside an abandoned train only once. Andra also won the ACFW Genesis Award once, which was much less traumatizing. You can find out more about Andra at andraloy.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Interview with Author Marie Sontag: Tips for Author Visits

For young adult authors one of the ways to connect with readers is through school visits. I asked Author Marie Sontag for her advice on the topic and she passed along her three top tips.

Props and Prizes

I’ve purchased authenticated artifacts such as a bronze dagger, an alabaster jar, and an ancient Phoenician coin and made these part of my presentation. This adds value to my author visit, apart from giving listeners a chance to hear from a writer and purchase my books. I also bring bookmarks with QR codes, pencils with one of my book’s names on it, and polished rocks I’ve collected (legally!) from places where some of my stories take place. I use these as prizes when someone answers one of the questions I sprinkle throughout the talk. Sometimes, I tape a ticket to the bottom of a chair (unknown to the audience) and give away a book at the end.

Keep It Interesting and Personal

I always create a PowerPoint for my talks, including visuals that illustrate my points. I also plan questions as part of my presentation, being sure to include these on the PowerPoint. When someone raises a hand to answer, I always ask his or her name. I jot it down or quickly associate it with something so I can remember it. I work to see my listeners as individuals, not just customers that I hope will buy my books. I want them to know I value them and the time we spend together.

It’s My Passion, but It’s Also a Business

I love writing and never tire of speaking with readers. For me, however, it’s also a business, and I need to treat it as such. Before speaking at a school or event, I’ve found it best to have a librarian, teacher, or volunteer distribute and collect order forms and money for my books before I come. This leaves me time to sign and interact with students. If that isn’t possible, I bring someone with me to handle the selling so I can focus on book-signing and connecting with my readers.

What great tips! Thank you, Marie.

What about you? Have any additional tips to share about school visits? Please comment below.

Marie Sontag writes historical fiction for young adult and middle grade, and was a teacher in California for over fifteen years. She has a BA in social science and a PhD. in education and presents author talks to various age groups. “Bringing the Past to Life—One Adventure at a Time,” epitomizes the passion and writing career of Marie Sontag.

Her newest release, Underground Scouts, furthers her tradition of crafting adventurous historical novels for middle grade and young adult readers, bringing her number of published books to six. To learn more about Marie and her books visit www.mariesontag.com .

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

How To Reclaim Writing Motivation

Slogging away for weeks, months, or years on a project can be discouraging. Writing requires self-discipline, but is that enough to power through? Maybe. But as with any long-term task, staying motivated is essential.

There are days when motivation remains elusive, no matter how much I try to buckle down.

I asked a few young adult authors what keeps them going when the task seems never ending.

What keeps me going is knowing that not all teen readers are interested in fantasy. Some are looking for other types of stories, like the historical novels I write. Readers should have options the way I did as a teen.

Stephanie Daniels ~ Historical Young Adult Author

Without a doubt the weekly meeting with my crit group helps keep me creatively energized. I know I need to sub something. Even when I don’t feel like writing, I’m the type of person that doesn’t want to let anybody down. I take that seriously and it keeps me—if not on track—at least moving forward.

Stephanie Daniels ~ Historical Young Adult Author

I can’t NOT write. It is has been a part of my creative makeup since I was a young teen. I would write stories even if there were no motivation for me to publish them. Of course I stumble into times of writers’ block or when life gets in the way. Discouragement, grief, stress… they’re all powerful anti-motivators to writing. Sometimes I must accept those challenges and give myself permission to take a break. When my mother was sick and subsequently passed, it was over a year before I could write again, and then I had to make a concerted effort to write… not wait for inspiration to strike.

Diana L. Sharples ~ Young Adult Contemporary Author

I’ve been writing for long enough that I know it’ll all come back when my head is in a better place. One trick I’ve found that usually works to get me past those bleak times is to remove myself from the environment causing the stress. A restaurant, coffee shop, library, or a picnic table in a park will usually help me to get back into my creative space.

Diana L. Sharples ~ Young Adult Contemporary Author

I’ve always wanted to be an author, so what motivates me to keep writing is knowing that I’m pursuing my dream and that I’m getting to do the thing that I love every day. I also think about how there are people out there that I can hopefully encourage and inspire with my stories. That motivates me to keep writing, knowing that readers will read my books and that those books will speak to them the same way that other books have spoken to me in the past.

Melody Personette ~ Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and Science Fiction

Outside stressors and internal doubts can be motivation zappers. Periodically, I have to remind myself of my original goal, why I’m writing and who I’m writing for. I want my words to comfort and help.

If my stories can do that for the people they were intended for, I’ve done my job and honored my calling.

Until I get my words in print, I’ll keep striving toward the goal with these things in mind.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

When Writing Goals and Reality Collide

Beginning a new year tends to motivate people to get organized, start new projects, or finish ones they’ve ignored for far too long. It’s a great time to make plans. The trouble comes when it becomes clear that goals are harder to reach than expected. 

If you find yourself so discouraged and you’re inches away from throwing in the towel, it might be time to consider a new perspective.

As writers, we tend to focus on the problems in our writing, which is a necessary thing, but what if we focused on the positive instead? 

Constantly focusing on weaknesses and ignore abilities is a disservice to our readers and ourselves. Don’t neglect your strong points, the parts you do well.

Where Do You Excel? 

Take an assessment. 

What is it about your writing that shines? 

Are you great at story concepts and plot?

Can you produce snappy dialogue?

Are you a lyrical writer? 

Do you create characters that your critique partners and beta readers love? Perhaps you’re good at comedy or evoking an emotional connection with readers.

What are the elements of writing that you enjoy the most?

These are the things that make your voice unique, those natural talents, and it’s easier to improve in those areas than others and make your writing stand out. If you don’t know what your areas of excellence are, consider what your critique partners and beta readers consistently praise. 

Instead of trying to be exceptional at all the different skills, aim for mastery of basic storytelling. Then work at continuing improvement in the areas you already love and are proficient in.

What About the Other Stuff?

Am I saying to ignore the weak spots in your writing? Not at all. But you can’t do everything. Bring the basic storytelling skills up to an acceptable level. Learn basic story structure, understand GMC, how to create interesting characters, and how to write dialogue that is clear, along with the other bare bones every story needs. Once an author has achieved a measure of competency in all the necessary areas, it’s fine to lean into strengths.

When You’re Stuck

Are you stuck at a certain aspect of your story? For whatever reason it’s worked before, but this time, the story or chapter refuses to come into focus. Instead of fixating on what’s wrong, look at what worked before. What made that piece of writing stand out? 

Too much focus on the things we feel we are doing wrong gums up the works.

Lean Into Your Gift

Not everyone can write poetic descriptions. Comedy may never come easy to you. Not everyone will produce a high-octane tale. Some folks always end up with a quiet story, even after brainstorming ideas for weeks. Maybe those writers were never meant to write the stories that remain elusive no matter what they try. Maybe they were meant to show the world their own unique stories.

Focus on the positives and what you love about writing, the parts of the creative process that draw you. Instead of attempting to write like someone else just because they are popular or successful, let your voice onto the page. Continue to hone skills, improving the most real and beautiful parts of your gift, and see what happens.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

Details, Details: How to Write a Rich Setting for Your Story

It’s incredibly exciting to have a new story idea. The characters develop in our mind and seem to be itching to plunge right in and share their story. All the important parts of the setting are complete in our imagination and will flow onto the page. After all, the setting is simply the stuff surrounding the characters. All the author has to do is establish a time and a place.

Sounds simple, right?

It’s not always so.

As writers, we are often immersed in our own story world before we create it. We take familiar elements and weave them in, using past experiences to provide a backdrop for novels.

Because we’re so familiar with certain environments, we risk making the unconscious assumption that our reader knows exactly what we’re talking about. We forget to add little details that bring the story world to life for readers who may not have previous knowledge of our chosen setting.

This can be a particular challenge for authors of young adult fiction, because it’s tempting to skip over details for the sake of word count, but without a firm setting readers can’t get oriented.

Put It On the Page

Make sure there is enough description and detail of the surroundings, the clothing, and the items in your setting to evoke a sense of time and place. Just not so much that the reader will become bogged down and lose interest. At the same time, give enough of the necessary descriptions, pertinent details, and explanations to ground the reader firmly in the story world.

I told you it wasn’t as simple as it sounds!

Why Time Markers Aren’t Enough

Often in novels, a date is indicated at the beginning of a chapter. This is a good starting place to help orient your reader, but the author needs to go a little bit further. Readers expect an immersive experience that walks them through the story, and unless a date has events attached to it, it can be quickly forgotten.

Unfamiliar Settings

Sometimes a story comes into being in a setting completely new to the author. If the region, country, or environment is one the writer isn’t familiar with, it’s best to do the required research, and then have fact checkers go over your manuscript for inaccuracies, both large and small.

Many readers won’t like stories that play fast and loose with inaccuracies vital to the plot of a story, but even little things can be an issue, such as having a species of trees growing in an area that they would never grow, using figures of speech incorrectly, not understanding the customs of the culture, and so on.

Dialogue as Part of Setting

Use dialogue and sayings consistent with the time or the region where your story is set, but without going overboard! Nothing screams “I don’t know what I’m talking about” as much as misused dialogue and obvious mistakes with commonly known details of the region.

Vocabulary

Language is constantly changing. Along with dialogue and how your characters speak, the author’s word choices help establish setting. Words like “ridicule” and “rotund” evoke certain eras, and probably wouldn’t find their way into contemporary, but would be perfect for a story set in the 1800s. The opposite is true. Contemporary vocabulary shouldn’t show up in historical fiction.

As always, there are exceptions. For instance, unusual word choices can work for a quirky character.

Update Your Info

An author may have the utmost confidence they understand their setting. Perhaps their novel is set in another country, and they have lived in that country. Personal experience lends authenticity to the narrative, but make sure you’re working with updated information. In certain settings and fields, things change quickly.

Start With Research

Misplaced details stick out like a sore thumb. The easiest way to ferret out these types of mistakes before they end up in a published book is to get a few readers who can fact check for you. That’s not to say that fact checkers are a substitution for research. Fact checkers are your last line of defense, and like proofreading, they may not catch everything, especially if the gaffes are excessive.

So how much setting detail does a story need?

Whatever it takes to keep the reader grounded, interested, and reading!

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
Writing for YA

When and How to Use Flashbacks and Backstory Effectively

I recently asked an avid reader what one of their fiction pet peeves were. The answer? Too many flashbacks and too much backstory. 

Certain genres seem to overuse flashbacks and backstory, but it can happen in any story. It’s a common pitfall for inexperienced writers, but seasoned authors can also fall into the flashback/backstory sticky trap. Readers want background information, but they also want the story to keep moving.

Flashbacks, introspection, dialogue, all of these are ways to give information to the reader. When do you use each of these techniques? It’s up to you. But every manuscript needs balance. If the story is unnecessarily interrupted, there may be too many flashbacks or sections of back story. 

On the other hand, if the story has a great deal of action sequences, they might help to break up scenes. Balance is the key. 

If the story is interrupted too often, the reader may lose interest or give up in confusion, and using any one method to give background too often can lead to reader frustration. Even if the bits of backstory feel balanced, if they happen too often the reader may come away feeling cheated, aggravated that the author over-explained things and fed them information rather than letting them experience the story.

What if there’s more backstory than current story? If you find more on the page about a side character or an event in the past, it could be that the backstory is actually a main story eager to be told. It’s up to you as an author whether or not you want to pursue another direction. 

What About Story Set Up?

When setting up a story, there’s a fine balance between too much backstory and not enough. I find story beginnings particularly tricky. I’m not alone. I heard an editor for a large house once say they always edit the first three chapter last. If you’re working on a draft, it may be best to go ahead and get the basic story down without worrying too much about how much backstory to put at the start until the manuscript is drafted.

Is It Backstory?

Sometimes it’s not backstory, it’s story that was left out the first time around. Instead of having a character stop and reminisce about something that happened a few days previously, why not go ahead and show what happened at the time of the event? When drafting, it’s perfectly fine to summarize or backtrack. (Trust me, in first drafts, I do this all the time!) But when editing the story, showing the events as they happen is often better.

As I write, my subconscious seems to circle back around to things that would work better if they were given chronologically. I’ve noticed other writers do this kind of backtracking as well. A little in the final draft might be okay, but if it happens too often, those parts need to be edited until everything moves along smoothly.

It can be nerve wracking to discover there needs be more showing and less telling. Worry about adding to an already heavy word count can stop an author dead in her tracks, but sometimes showing takes the same amount of words or even less. Even if word count climbs, there are often other places to trim. Keeping the reader engaged is vital.

Editing Flashbacks and Backstory

Once you’ve drafted and edited, take a look at the first chapters.

Is there more back story than current story? Are details unnecessary to understanding the main character’s story taking up pages? The may be too much backstory.

Details about side characters may be interesting, but do those details add to the main character’s story? Is everything on the page relevant to the main story? What does the reader need to know to understand my protagonist and their story?

After reading the first few pages or chapters, is my reader oriented in the story world, can they relate to my character in some way, and do they have at least a hint about the main character’s journey? If not, there might not be enough backstory.

Be careful with the timing of your flashbacks. Readers need to be grounded and invested in the present story before a flashback occurs. 

How does each scene fit in the overall narrative? Flashbacks interrupt the current story, and if the flashback or sections of backstory go on too long, the reader may lose the thread, and interest. 

When Flashbacks Work

Sometimes info needs to be held back and only given when the reader needs it. Flashbacks can build tension or provide intrigue with unanswered questions. Flashbacks of these sort are more often used in stories that have an element of mystery, although they can be used in any genre if it serves the story. 

Use flashbacks and backstory wisely. Make scenes as vivid as possible and fold information into the story organically to keep the flow and, hopefully, keep the reader turning pages!

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com