Author: Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor

I'm a prairie girl from Kansas transplanted to Amish country, Pennsylvania. I'm married to a wonderful man since 1987, a member of a great church, where I serve as a greeter and on ministry team. On Sunday afternoons, I stand a two-hour prayer watch at our local 24/7 House of Prayer. I also enjoy reading, occasionally reviewing books, and of course, writing. A graduate of Christian Writer's Guild's Craftsman program, and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in communication. I seek to encourage beginning writers in learning the craft. I am currently the Mid-Atlantic Zone Director of American Christian Fiction Writers and serve as Managing Editor for A3. My debut novel, Meghan's Choice, published in late 2017. Her second novel is in the editing process. She also teaches workshops on writing and inspirational.

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The Writer's PenCase

What Fuels Your Ideas?

early editionWhere do you get your inspiration? For me, it can something as simple as a “what if” question to change a story that’s already been written. OR, my mind thinks about an update.

As a mental exercise, I’ve done two updates. I’ve not written these down, but who knows if I’ll ever do them or not?

I’ve often wondered what the modern version of 1990s TV’s “Early Edition” would be like today? That show ran from 1996-2000. The premise: divorced stock broker Gary Hobson gets tomorrow’s newspaper, in this case, The Chicago Sun Times, today. I loved that show, and often wondered how technology would change it. The last episode showed how Gary was chosen to receive the newspaper, and how he chose who would get the newspaper next.

Continue reading “What Fuels Your Ideas?”
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The Writer's PenCase

Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part III

The Writer's PenCase

Characters with personality make your readers identify and care about them. There are several ways to determine what your character will be like. Are they introvert or extrovert? Dominant or stable? Sanguine or Phlegmatic? [bctt tweet=”Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Personality Plus are tools writers can use to create characters.” username=”@A3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #characters

Continue reading “Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part III”
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The Writer's PenCase

Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part II

The Writer's PenCase

In the beginning…in creating characters, we must begin at the beginning. We’ve talked about a three-word description, and basic information. How do we determine what the basic information will be? Who do you want it to be? [bctt tweet=”Determining the basic information about the character is paramount to creating one amazing character.” username=”@a3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #characters

Continue reading “Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part II”
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Craft The Writer's PenCase

Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part I

The Writer's PenCase

Why is it that some characters stick in our minds? What is it about them that causes us identify with them and admire them? I’ll be looking at these questions and others in this new series. [bctt tweet=”Some say it’s all about plot. Others say it’s about character. ” username=”@A3forme @donnalhsmith”]#amwriting #characters

Continue reading “Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part I”
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Craft The Writer's PenCase

Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part I

The Writer's PenCase

Why is it that some characters stick in our minds? What is it about them that causes us identify with them and admire them? I’ll be looking at these questions and others in this new series. [bctt tweet=”Some say it’s all about plot. Others say it’s about character.” username=”@a3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #characters

Continue reading “Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part I”
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The Writer's PenCase Uncategorized

Seamless Self–Editing––Part VIII

The Writer's PenCase

As this series draws to a close, here are a couple practical exercises you can do at home to learn and practice your own seamless self-editing. Cutting word usage in half, and a proofreading exercise will assist you in learning more about how to edit your own manuscript. Because our object is to become “publish-ready.” #amwriting #publishready #seamlessediting

Continue reading “Seamless Self–Editing––Part VIII”
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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing––Part VII

The Writer's PenCase

This time, we’re continuing our look at self-editing with tips from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Browne and King. We’re going to look at Proportion and Dialogue Mechanics, two chapters from this resource. Because our space is limited, I’ll only summarize a few points from each chapter. [bctt tweet=”Editing our work ourselves will improve our chances at becoming publish-ready.” username=”@A3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #self-editing

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing––Part VII”
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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing––Part VI

Writer's PenCase-2We all want our manuscripts to be the best they can be. In the past, we’ve relied on unskilled critique partners, groups, and professional editors to do our work for us. But, [bctt tweet=”Prospective authors must learn how to edit their own work to the point where a publisher will consider it as it.” username=”@a3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #publishready

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing––Part VI”
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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing––Part V

The Writer's PenCase

Writer's PenCase-2Writers write because we love to use words, but let’s face it––even though we say we write for ourselves, we all want to be published and have many others read what we’ve written, for the mutual benefit of ourselves and our readers. That’s why self-editing is important. [bctt tweet=”We must do everything we can to get our manuscripts ready for publication.” username=”@a3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #publishready

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing––Part V”
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Craft The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing––Part IV

The Writer's PenCase

Writer's PenCase-2Getting published traditionally is difficult. Small publishers are more likely to accept a manuscript from a previously unpublished author, yet they are the ones who require “publish-ready” submissions. [bctt tweet=”Self-editing is a challenge to improve our own writing. ” username=”@a3forme @donnalhsmith”]#amwriting #selfediting

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing––Part IV”
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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing—Part III

The Writer's PenCase

Writer's PenCase-2Let’s get our manuscript “publish-ready.” Refer to last month’s post for my definition. This time, we’ll look at basic proofreading. [bctt tweet=”Spell check in Microsoft Word or whatever word processing program you use—is simply not good enough.” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”]. #amwriting #publishready #selfediting

Catching Typos

Use spell-check, but don’t rely on it: heals vs. heels, etc.

Read it out loud: our eyes skip over things too quickly. When we read it aloud, we slow down, reading every word.

Print it out: Even though a computer simulates the printed page quite well, there’s just something about actually seeing it on real paper.

Proofread backward: I’ve never tried this, but it sounds interesting.

seamless edit-2ACatching Inconsistencies

Chapter Titles and Numbers: Especially when adding or deleting chapter, make sure they’re in proper order. Use your search or find function on your word processor.

Paragraph Indents: Generally, most manuscripts ask for a half-inch indent. When you end a scene with either a # (hashtag) or * (asterisk), make sure you’ve taken out the indent for that paragraph alone.

Hyphens, dashes, and ellipses: I always consult a grammar website or the text listed here. Here are a few pointers to help you discern. An ellipses (…) is used for fragmented speech, i.e. confusion, insecurity, or uncertainty. An em dash (—) is for a break in thought or interruption. An en dash (–) is used for consecutive numbers such as 1–10.

Apostrophes and quotation marks: usually font-controlled. Any fonts associated with old typewriter styles usually has the straight marks, such as “ when most publishers would like them curved, like “. One note: if you’re using an em dash at the end of dialogue, put the end quotes in first or it will look like this: “Hello. Are you––“ Quotation marks are backwards. “Hello. Are you––”

[bctt tweet=”If we learn to catch these simple things ourselves, the overall appearance of our manuscript will improve, and give us a better chance. ” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”]#amwriting #selfediting

How about you? What proofreading secret has helped you the most? Leave a comment and let me know.

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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing—Part II

The Writer's PenCase

Last month, we talked about what “publish-ready” means.  This time, we’ll look at basic proofreading. Spell check in Microsoft Word or whatever word processing program you use—is simply not good enough. #amwriting #publishready #selfediting

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing—Part II”
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The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing—Part I

The Writer's PenCase
The Writer’s PenCase

You hear it more and more these days. [bctt tweet=”Your manuscript must be “publish-ready” in order for it to be considered. ” username=””] What does “publish-ready” mean? How can self-editing help? #amwriting #publish-ready #self-editing

For the next few blog posts, we’ll look at this and how you can improve your raw writing into something closer to “publish-ready.” I’ll be using several resources for this.

Continue reading “Seamless Self-Editing—Part I”
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The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists – Part IV

The Writer's PenCase

We’ve been looking at crafting plot twists. #amwriting #plottwists [bctt tweet=”Create a jaw-dropping plot twist by convincing your reader your story world is exactly how it should be” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”].

Continue reading “Plot Twists – Part IV”
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The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists –– Part III

The Writer's PenCase

Continuing our look at crafting a spectacular plot twist, this time we’ll look in detail at a couple of the “tips” mentioned last time. #amwriting #plottwists [bctt tweet=”What questions will you ask yourself to maximize reader satisfaction?” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”] What questions will you ask yourself to maximize reader satisfaction?

 

Continue reading “Plot Twists –– Part III”
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Blogging Basics

Five Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

5 Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

Beginning bloggers face a steep learning curve that can seem overwhelming. Because there’s so much to learn, it’s easy to begin blogging without a clear plan and purpose. Really, it’s enough to make your head spin: SEO, format, technical, style, social media, length, graphics, and more. The list seems endless.

When I started blogging, I didn’t have a clear vision of I wanted to accomplish. I had a general topic, but lacked a well-developed focus. Over time, I’ve learned through mistakes, training, and example. Start out strong with five key things I wish I knew when I started blogging.

[bctt tweet=”Five Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging”]

  1. Give yourself permission to grow over time.
  • Fight the temptation to be overwhelmed with all the details.
  • Let go of perfectionism and remember everyone walks one step at a time.
  • Refuse to negatively compare your blog or traffic with others.
  • Subscribe to writing blogs for practical tips and tutorials for ongoing development.

 

  1. Know your why. Take time to think through the reasons you’re blogging. Examine your motivation with prayer. You need a stronger why than building a platform and generating high traffic. Platform and traffic are good goals, but writing for the numbers can be discouraging.  Consider these questions:
  • How does God want to use your writing?
  • What is your purpose for blogging?
  • What do you hope to do?
  • Why is this important to you?
  • How do your experiences, knowledge, and passions fit with your calling to write?

 

  1. Focus your blog.  A well-focused blog makes it easy readers to know your passion at a glance. The average reader decides within 30 seconds if content is relevant to their interests. Use these tips to focus your blog.
  • Craft a strong mission or brand statement you can work with long term.
  • Choose 3-6 main topics that relate to your purpose.
  • Brainstorm ideas that fall under each topic.
  • Keep your mission statement in mind when you write.
  • Make your focus clear at first glance with structure and graphics that present your topic.

 

  1. Understand the difference between a category and a tag. Categories and tags can sort content by subject rather than chronological order. Categories are broad topics supporting your why, or your mission statement. “Your blog’s categories are like its elevator speech. Make it happen without excess,” explains Julie R. Neidlinger.  Tags are more specific than categories and relate to specific details of your post.
  • Be strategic in choosing your categories.
  • Use categories and tags to make it easy for the reader to find content.
  • The use of tags is optional and not limited in number.
  • Don’t overuse tags; WordPress recommends less than 15 in a post. 

 

  1. Aim for brand consistency.  Refer to your brand statement in most of your posts for a cohesive, focused site. Brand statement, categories, and blog content should all work together.
  • Place your mission statement in a visible spot to remind you to tie your post to your brand.
  • Keep a list of words, phrases, and concepts that support each category. Use these consistently in your posts whenever possible.
  • Before publishing, double check each post for a clear connection to your why or your mission statement.

[bctt tweet=”Refer to your brand statement in most blog posts for a cohesive, focused website.”]

These tips will help you quickly overcome many of the content and organizational challenges new bloggers face. Stay focused on the purpose of your blog, the why that motivates and energizes you. Share your passion with the world with an organized and clearly structured site. Be patient, aim for steady growth and celebrate each new skill mastered. Understanding how to write a clear mission statement and organize your blog will but you ahead of many beginning bloggers.

 

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The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists—Part II

The Writer's PenCase

Last time we talked about all the elements needed to create a stunning plot twist. This time, we’ll talk about reader reactions and other tips to create a plot twist they’ll never forget.

[bctt tweet=”Readers have one of three reactions to a plot twist: 1) “No way!” 2) “Huh. Nice!” and 3) “Oh, yeah!” “]#plottwists #amwriting

“No Way!”

With the “No Way!” reaction, you’ll structure your plot twist with certainty that what they read is the only way it could have turned out. It was the only possible solution.

“Huh. Nice!”

Lead your readers into uncertainty. Cloud the clues, the issues, and disguise the ending, so the reader has no clue where you’re taking them. Make sure it’s compelling enough to follow, throw in those suspicions and red herrings. You don’t want them figuring out your twist ahead of time.

twist“Oh, yeah!”

Here’s where cleverness leads the way. You’ll want to make sure earlier on your story that you show the special thing the protagonist has available to him/her, but they’ve forgotten about until that crucial moment when they use that to get themselves out of their predicament.

Here are a few questions to ask your manuscript regarding twists and turns in your plot.

  1. Where do I need to shade the details and foreshadowing so the twist is the most credible, inevitable ending to my story?
  2. What clues or evidence do I need to include to make the story stand on its own without the twist?
  3. Is the story improved by the twist? In other words, is it richer and more meaningful? If not, how can I construct the twist so that it adds depth to the story?
  4. How can I use this twist to both turn the story on its head and move it in a more satisfying direction?

Here are a few more tips:

  1. [bctt tweet=”More tips for a spectacular plot twist: 1.Create multiple worlds of inevitability; 2.Turn expectations on their head; 3.Eliminate the obvious; 4.Redirect suspicion; 5.Avoid gimmicks; 6.Write toward your readers’ reaction.”]

Have you had any of these reactions when you read a good plot twist? Which one(s)? Leave a comment and let me know. #amwriting #plottwists

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Publishing Perspectives

The BISAC Subject Heading List

Publishing Perspectives column

Have you ever looked at the category words on the back of a book, above (or below) the bar code? Have you ever contemplated the Browse category tree at an online bookseller? Do you remember learning about the Dewey Decimal system in school? These are all ways we categorize a book by topic.

Part of your job as an author is to give the publisher information about what category or genre your book probably belongs in. Subject or genre information helps the publisher with marketing because it tells retailers what store section will best fit the book (thus, where it may sell best and where it will be most discoverable by the target audience). This information is also used to assist with search terms in an online store. With so many new cross-over subcategories arising today, your publisher will make the ultimate decision, but you can point them in a possible direction.

This column will look at the BISAC Subject Heading List. BISAC is an acronym for Book Industry Standards and Communications, and you can learn more about it here: https://www.bisg.org/bisac/tutorial-and-faq

The subject heading list is an industry-approved list of subject descriptors, with more than 50 major sections, that was developed to aid in electronic transfer of information about books. The subject headings have at least one level of sub-headings below them. For example, RELIGION / Christianity / General is one descriptor (with two sub-headings) you could use for non-fiction books about the Christian religion.

Christian fiction for juveniles (ages 0-11; preschool-grade 6) belongs under the subject descriptor JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian. The sub-headings available are: General; Action & Adventure; Animals; Bedtime & Dreams; Comics & Graphic Novels; Early Readers; Emotions & Feelings; Family; Fantasy; Friendship; Historical; Holidays & Celebrations; Humorous; Learning Concepts; Mysteries & Detective Stories; People & Places; Relationships; Science Fiction; Social Issues; Sports & Recreation; and Values & Virtues.

Christian fiction for young adults (ages 12-18; grades 7-12) belongs under YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian. These are the sub-headings available: General; Action & Adventure; Comics & Graphic Novels; Fantasy; Historical; Mysteries & Detective Stories; Relationships; Science Fiction; and Social Issues.

Christian fiction for adults belongs under the FICTION / Christian category. But the list of genres under that is not very extensive. All you have available to choose from is: General; Classic & Allegory; Collections & Anthologies; Fantasy; Futuristic; Historical; Romance; Suspense; and Western. So, where would you put contemporary women’s fiction? For romantic suspense, you have to decide which is primary (the romance or the suspense) and use the other as a second subject heading.

Dewey Decimal

Isn’t it interesting that there are fewer BISAC subject headings available as the target age for the fiction gets older? However, note that you can also use these heading lists as inspiration for keywords. So go ahead and label your contemporary women’s fiction with FICTION / Christian / General. Then use your back cover copy to include other appropriate headings as keywords. Maybe “Friendship” or “Humorous” would apply to your work? Use your creative energy to include these keywords in natural sentences in your book descriptions, advertisements, and anywhere else that you promote your book.

The BISAC committee recommends that a book have no more than three subject headings assigned to it. CreateSpace only lets you assign one. Amazon Advantage lets you pick up to two. Amazon KDP lets you pick up to two. Subject headings added in addition to the primary heading should be logical and not conflicting. So you’ll have to decide which subject heading is the most relevant.

Leave a comment: What BISAC code would your current WIP fall under?

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The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists – Part I

Plot Twists

[bctt tweet=”Four elements to plot twists: 1) unexpected, 2) inevitable, 3) an escalation of what preceded it, and 4) a revelation that adds meaning. (from @StevenJames”] to what has already occurred. #amwriting #unforgettablefiction

Inevitable and Surprising

Inevitable: There is only one possible conclusion to the story. It’s believable to readers, and when they get to it, they see that everything in the story up until then has been pointing toward that ending, rather than the one they were predicting and anticipating.

Surprising: It’s a conclusion that readers don’t see coming but that ends up not only being reasonable but more logical than any other possible ending. It’s an ending free of gimmicks, one that both shocks and delights even the most discerning reader.

A twist doesn’t just move the story forward; it unravels it and then rethreads it at the same time, giving more meaning to it. Readers find out that the story is deeper, richer, and more multilayered than they ever imagined.

TwistExpectations

Turn expectations on their head. At first you’ll play to those expectations, so readers will think they know where things are going. Then, suddenly, you’ll turn those expectations against them to create the twist.

I have a plot twist in “Meghan’s Choice” regarding Meghan and Doctor Scott Allison. I can’t reveal it, and I can’t take credit for it. My mentor DiAnn Mills, gave me the idea, and it’s resolution. Let’s just say there is blackmail involved.

[bctt tweet=”Five types of plot twists: 1) Identity, 2) Awareness, 3) Complexity, 4) Peril, and 5) Cleverness from @StevenJames”]

Identity

“Your protagonist (or your reader, or both) realizes he’s not who he thought he was…” Maybe she’s insane, maybe she’s in someone else’s dream, maybe he’s a monster. “This discovery could come at the beginning of the story, setting it up for a redemptive ending or at the climax, creating a dramatic plunge at the end…”

Awareness

“The world isn’t what your protagonist thought it was. He’s not on Earth, he’s on another planet, or he thinks he’s arrived in heaven in the afterlife, but discovers he’s really in hell.”

Complexity

“The heist, confidence game, or sting operation has a whole level of intrigue that wasn’t evident throughout the story.” Maybe the hero knows something about the bad guys we don’t. “Curiosity about how things will move forward drives readers to keep reading.”

Peril

“The real danger isn’t where you though it was.” The hunter is the hunted, the spy’s partner is a double agent, the protagonist’s daughter is a terrorist. These are ideas to get your creative juices going.

Cleverness

Now this is a funny way of saying it, but “the detective (or villain) was really one step ahead of the villain (or detective) the whole time and has set a trap that the other guy, and readers, didn’t see coming.” (Remember, the detective must solve the crime before readers do, or they’ll think they’re smarter than he is.)

What are some of your favorite plot twists you’ve either seen in a movie or read in a book? #amwriting #plottwists Leave a comment and let me know.

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The Writer's PenCase

Don’t Break Promises to Readers

The Writer's PenCase

Nearly two years ago, when I finished my Craftsman class with DiAnn Mills, she recommended I get a book entitled Story Trumps Structure, by Steven James.Its tagline is How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules. I haven’t read it all yet, but I’ve been skimming. This is a book for “pantsers,” those writers who hate the idea of plotting out every little scene and detail of their story. Because most of us “organic” writers know that [bctt tweet=”Even the best-laid plots of mice and men are sometimes changed while they’re being written.”] #amwriting #dontbreakpromises

This book is entirely different than any other book on writing I’ve ever seen. One chapter focuses on “Promises: The Keys to Building Suspense and Satisfying Your Readers.”

This is not something I’ve thought about when writing my novel. That my story is made up of a set of promises that I have to deliver on in order to keep my reader, by first making those promises, then keeping them. James says there are three scenarios at the beginning of any story: 1) will the protagonist have what they desire at the start, lose it and try to find it again? 2) Will the protagonist see what they desire from a distance, and pursue it? 3) Is the protagonist forced to escape what they dread most? The author says any of these three scenarios will launch the story and initiate the promises that will guide it.

Breaking Promises

Here are some of the ways you can break promises to readers:

  1. Indicate (by the context, description, or number of words) that something will be important, and then fail to make it significant
  2. Develop conflict, then don’t resolve it in a satisfactory way
  3. Have your characters act in unbelievable ways
  4. Build up a character toward an internal transformation, but end without letting him have one
  5. Resolve too much tension too early
  6. Introduce a character, make readers care, then drop them from the story

[bctt tweet=”Don’t break promises to your readers.”]. By avoiding these promise-breakers, we’ll have a better chance of keeping our readers. #amwriting #dontbreakpromises

What about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser? Leave a comment and let me know.

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Blogging Basics

Three Problems With Comparison for New Bloggers

Particularly for new writers beginning the blogging journey, comparison can kill confidence and create problems.

New bloggers often struggle with comparison, much like my youngest child who said, “I’m a slow runner. I don’t want to play soccer.” When I asked her why she thought she was a slow runner, she mentioned how much faster her older brother and sister ran. She struggled with confidence, not realizing she was unfairly comparing herself to her older siblings. She couldn’t see this was not a realistic comparison. Bloggers often struggle with comparison creating problems with confidence and negative thinking.

Comparison Creates Competition

Resist the scarcity lie that the success of others crowds out your own opportunity.

Comparison can cause significant set-backs when it comes to writing. All too easily, it can create competition when we allow the success of another to diminish our writing or sabotage our confidence. Choose to celebrate the achievements of others. Learn from their skill and experience.

New bloggers, blogging, writing, comparison, problems of comparison

Comparison Breeds Negative Thinking

Comparison opens the door to the problem of negative thinking. Comparative thinking leads to other forms of negativity—pride, envy, jealousy, resentment, discouragement, and criticism.  What can begin as comparison and negative feelings can quickly ignite destructive thoughts and actions.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:16

Comparison Demotivates Passion

Comparison can stifle passion to fulfill the writing desires God places in our hearts.

Have you ever compared yourself with a more experienced writer and thought, “Why bother…I’ll never be as good as ________.” The power to demotivate passion is one of the greatest problems of comparison.

Resist the temptation to measure the gap between where you are and where someone else is. We often see this gap as a diminishing, devaluing thing rather than embracing the growth process of our own writing.

Problems of comparison, blogging, writing, new bloggers

I have hung over the edge of motivation, wanting to quit because the journey to “success” is steep and difficult. Maybe you have too. Comparison saps passion and energy when we forget that God is with us in the process.

[bctt tweet=”Distracting us from God’s call and purpose, comparison makes the process about personal success rather than obedience to God’s call to write.”]

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4-5 MSG

Choose to celebrate and learn from successful and experience writers, rather than give into comparison. Give yourself permission to grow through the process and develop skill at the pace that is right for you. 

Don’t let comparison rob you of confidence and joy in writing. [bctt tweet=”Comparison is a choice you don’t have to make. “]

At the end of it all, comparison asks the wrong question.

The right question is this: what does God want to do through my writing?

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Publishing Perspectives

Describing the Ideal Reader

Publishing Perspectives column

In last month’s column, I mentioned that an item of an Author’s Questionnaire from a publisher is the request to describe the ideal reader or target audience for your book. And no, your book is not targeted to “everyone.” And no, don’t assume your reader is just like you and describe yourself.

The publisher will use this description to market the book more efficiently. For example, the details will help them create an ad set on social media, or generate keywords for search engines.

Reader ProfileSo what kind of information is the publisher looking for? It’s a bit like a profile you would see on a crime TV show. Especially if you’ve ever watched “Criminal Minds” because they talk more about habits and behavior than just the physical traits of the unsub (unknown subject, the bad guy). To make it less creepy, let’s instead consider a social media profile. I’m looking at my Facebook profile as I write this. Facebook has your profile divided into sections: Overview, Work and Education, Places You’ve lived, Contact and Basic Info, Family and Relationships, Details About You, and Life Events. Those sound like pretty good categories, so write those down on a piece of paper.

For each of these categories, think in the abstract. Think of the perfect reader. If you could only sell this book to exactly one person, what kind of person would that be so that they would give it the most outstanding review? What kind of person is the best possible match to be a fan of this book?

Many readers want to identify with, or connect with, the main character(s). So think of your hero and heroine. What kind of person would be their BFF? Remember, a BFF isn’t necessarily a clone. Your ideal reader will match this profile in every aspect, but real readers will only partially match. But it gives the publisher an idea of how to find communities of people that are more likely to have that partial match. For example, ideal readers of Amish fiction are probably people who love the idea of a less technological life.

Work and Education:

We don’t need a list of actual schools. Are your main characters in high school? College? Never went to school? An ideal reader doesn’t have to match the education level of the main character; they just have to enjoy the idea of being in high school or college, etc. Someone who hated high school is less likely to be an ideal reader of books with high-school-aged characters.

We don’t need a resume for the work experience aspect. Is the main character working their first summer job in high school? First job after college? Established career? Retired? What kind of career: science? Technology? Arts? Homemaker? Your ideal reader will have a similar background or think positively of that background so that they more easily identify with the character. Main characters who spout technical jargon constantly may be of less interest to the reader who holds a Fine Arts degree. Farmer characters may be of less interest to those who have a PhD in Computer Science. But again, perhaps that PhD person has a vegetable garden and dreams of getting away to a dude ranch for vacation. So, the way you’ll phrase this characteristic is “those who work in or have an interest in blah-blah.”

Places the Ideal Reader has Lived:

No, we don’t really need a list of actual cities, unless those cities are featured in the story. But think about it in general. Is your story set in a rural area? A small town? A large city? What country is the story set in? Is the story setting a specific locale/county/state/province? The ideal reader will live in a similar place, wishes they lived in a similar place, or wants to vacation in a similar place. Make note of any real locations used in the book; the publisher may want to market the book to stores and tourist attractions in that area.

Contact and Basic Info:

If you happen to have a mailing list of specific people who will enjoy receiving an advertisement about your book, your publisher would probably like to know about it. Failing that detailed contact information, let’s talk basic demographics. Is the ideal reader male or female? In general, romances are aimed at female audiences, and thrillers are aimed more at men. I do know a highly-educated man in his 70s who only reads Regency Romance, but that can’t be a common thing. So unless you can present a strong argument why your book would attract a non-traditional audience yet still belong in a particular genre, go with the stereotype.

The age of the ideal reader may have a connection to the age of the main characters. Until recently, Young Adult titles were only read by teenagers. But they are currently attractive to readers in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s. Hollywood adaptations of books has a lot to do with this. Women’s Fiction is typically aimed at the 30+ crowd, etc. Think about your main character. Would their BFF be a teenager? A 20-something? 30-something? 40-something? Etc. So while readers in other age groups may be fans of the book, write down the decade of the reader who would be the BFF. If you really, really can’t narrow it down to one decade, then at least select the generation (Baby boomer, Generation X, Millennials, etc) that is the closest match.

Language is another basic data point, especially if you have a character who routinely injects words from a different language than the rest of the text. For example, if you have a main character who grew up speaking Spanish and uses Spanish frequently in dialog along with English, then the publisher would like to know that bilingual readers could be a special area of marketing.

Ethnic affinity or nationality of the main characters (and thus the ideal reader) may be important to the publisher who targets a minority population.

Family and Relationships:

Your readers want to identify with the main characters, so are we looking for only-children? The oldest of 11 kids? Those who grew up in a single-parent family? Those who are estranged from whatever family they have?

What is the relationship of the main characters in the story? If the main characters are married at the start of the story, then the book can’t be marketed as Romance but has to be Women’s Fiction instead. If they are friends or co-workers but falling in love is not the point of the story, then the plot better have enough action to class the novel as a thriller or suspense or mystery.

Details About the Ideal Reader:

If the above categories seemed difficult, hang on to your hat because this one is harder.

Given the story line, is your ideal reader more likely to be politically or culturally conservative, moderate, or liberal? Are they active in any particular causes (that are important to the book)? Does the ideal reader attend a specific denomination of church?

What interests, hobbies, sports, and activities are important to your main characters (especially if they are in the book)?

Life Events:

Are there any specific life events that your ideal reader should identify with? For example, is it important to the story that your reader got engaged in the last 12 months? If so, your publisher can rent a mailing list of people newly engaged and send them an advertisement… yeah… the list development people know a bunch of scary details about you.

Overview:

Let’s sum up. This is where a cop would say “We’re looking for a married female in her 30s, with more than one child, who is socially and politically conservative, enjoys living near or frequently visiting a large city, and is interested in urban gardening.”

Come back next month to learn more about keywords and BISAC categories!

Let’s practice… leave a comment with your suggestion for an ideal reader for a book you read recently, and tell us what book it is!

Categories
Publishing Perspectives

Submitting a Fiction Novel to a Publisher, Part 3: The Author’s Questionnaire

Publishing Perspectives column

The first part of this series examined the Query Letter. The second part looked at the synopsis. In this column, we’ll look at the Author’s Questionnaire. It helps the publisher understand a bit more about your platform, and about how you view your book. Your responses to this questionnaire will be used in preparing promotional materials.

Personal information

This part of the form will feel a bit like a resume because it will likely ask for:

  • your contact information and demographics
  • a list of cities where you have lived
  • a list of schools you attended and the degrees you received
  • other special awards or honors you’ve received
  • your hobbies
  • a list of your social media profile pages
  • URLs of any other internet presence you have, such as a website or email newsletter
  • a biography (that would be appropriate for a book back cover; you should develop a 50-word version, 100-word version, and 250-word version)

Experience as a writer

In this section you will list:

  • any other books you’ve written
  • magazines to which you have contributed
  • any media interviews you’ve given
  • any writing-related awards you’ve won
  • whether you have done any public speaking related to your writing topic

This information indicates whether other organizations have felt you were a good enough writer to be published, and that you may have a following of people who look for your writing. The more you have been published by other entities, the less of a risk you might be for this publisher.

Your book

This information is supplemental to your synopsis, but also helps the publisher understand what part of the genre spectrum (and thus the likely audience) your book fits into. Questions may include:

  • how you got the idea for the book
  • any interesting experiences while researching, writing, or pursuing publication
  • the theme of the book
  • why your book is unique; how it differs from other books on the same subject; what strengths your book has; anything controversial in the content
  • a list of similar books that could reasonably be considered competition
  • sample marketing ideas (a two sentence summary of your book; back cover copy; a list of 10 interview questions)
  • description of the target market for your book (and no, this isn’t ‘everyone’)

Marketing contacts

Another section will ask for your help in promoting the book. Do you have connections beyond friends and family? Are you a person with a readership already built? Do you have friends who are professionals in the media industry? Some publisher will reach out to these organizations for you, others simply use the information to evaluate the size of your platform. You will list things such as:

  • contact details for your alumni magazine
  • names of professional organizations or clubs of which you are a member
  • conferences or conventions that you regularly attend
  • names of bookstores where you are known
  • names of hometown newspapers
  • a list of any television shows, radio programs, or podcasts that would be interested in having you as a guest due to the subject of your book
  • a list of people (preferably, who you are already acquainted with) who would be influential in promoting sales via an endorsement of some sort (other authors, bloggers, professional reviewers, famous individuals)

So, you can see that there is quite a bit of researching and writing that you will do after you finish your book! Please comment with any questions you have about the above information, and come back next month to learn more about describing your ideal target audience.

Categories
The Writer's PenCase

Putting Fire in Your Fiction – Part I

The Writer's PenCase

Most fiction starts out hot, then bogs down. How can you keep the fire in your fiction so that readers will continually turn the pages of our novel? Scenes and dialogue can be our greatest friends or our worst enemies. In this next series of posts, we’ll ramp it up by putting the fire in your fiction.

Continue reading “Putting Fire in Your Fiction – Part I”
Categories
Lesson's From the Editor's Desk

Lessons from the Editor’s Desk – First Pages

 

 It’s time again for lessons from the editor’s desk. In addition to being a published author with Bethany House, Zondervan, and WhiteFire Publishing, I’m also an acquisitions editor with WhiteFire. As someone who sits on both sides of the desk, I think I have a unique perspective. For the past five years I have been representing WhiteFire Publishing at conferences and reviewing submissions for them. Probably the best perk I’ve gleaned from this experience is a huge improvement in my own writing, and especially in knowing how to make my submissions sparkle. So I’m going share some of that valuable information with you. Today let’s look at those all-important first pages.

The sad truth is that for the majority of the manuscripts I read, I never get past page one. Keep in mind that WhiteFire accepts unagented queries, so I imagine that statistic is different for bigger publishers, although it probably holds true for agents. You might wonder how in the world I can tell a manuscript won’t cut it by the first page alone, but a first page can tell you a lot. It can tell you whether or not a writer has done their job to learn the craft, it can tell you if they’re lazy, and it can tell you if they possess any talent.

Here are a few of the red flags that will stop me reading right on the first page.

1)  Stilted Language

2)  Phony dialogue

3)  Lack of understanding of point of view

4)  Telling not showing

5)  Confusing sentences

6)  Bad grammar

7)  Excessive typos

That little list saves me reading farther on over 50% of submissions. If I see any of those problems on the all-important first page that has been edited ad nauseam, I know that matters can only go downhill from there. As a publishing company, we simply don’t have the time or energy to put into fixing any of these issues, no matter how brilliant your idea might be, and I’m sure agents feel the same way.

Don’t get me wrong, I realize not everyone excels at opening scenes. I understand the paranoia of crafting the perfect hook. I know that some people aren’t good at nailing down exactly where a book should start. But if you haven’t mastered the basic writing craft yet, as attested by the red flags above, those other issues are immaterial. If the writing is good, but the opening is weak, I will read on. Occasionally if someone is “telling” a story with a really nice style, I will skip ahead a few pages to see if they shift into “showing.” And I’m not going to turn down a manuscript over a typo or a misplaced comma, but if I see several of those sorts of mistakes on the very first page, that’s just lazy, so forget it.

If you pass the all-important first pages test, and I actually get through a good scene or chapter of your book, I will then put it on my kindle and read it like a reader, not an editor. At that point, I’m looking to see if I enjoy the book and if it holds my interest. If I actually read through to the end, I might ask for some changes, but I will likely be sending the book forward to my senior editor. In my next lesson we’ll look at some of the reasons I might stop reading a novel by an otherwise competent author.

As a reader, what do you look for on the first page of a novel to decide whether or not you will read on?