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.
This time, we’ll look at Character Struggles, and how they help make unforgettable fiction. Here’s a great way to start it out: “To initiate your story, your protagonist will either 1) lose something vital and try to regain it, 2) see something desirable and try to obtain it, or 3) experience something traumatic and try to overcome it.”
[bctt tweet=”Three types of character struggles: internal, interpersonal, and external.”]. #amwriting #unforgettablefiction @stevenjames
The first part of this series examined the Query Letter. In this column, we’ll look at the synopsis.
Most publishers will be specific about the length of synopsis that they want to see. If they want 3-5 pages, you don’t want to submit just one page; and vice versa. So go to their website and search for instructions. Don’t give an editor an easy excuse to reject your submission package simply because you did not follow their guidelines. Check for instructions about font, margins, header/footer, and line spacing, too.
A synopsis is simply a summary of your content:
I urge you to try writing out steps 1, 2, and 4 of the Snowflake Method to help you draft a synopsis.
Start with your hook: the event that gets the main character moving on their journey.
Focus on the facts. Don’t embellish with descriptions on your first draft; you can add these details sparingly later (if there is room). This doesn’t mean leave out the emotions of the characters. Be sure to include the critical emotional development points of the main characters.
Leave out any characters that aren’t *essential* to the plot. Try writing your synopsis with *only* the main characters. Then review the presented plot for holes, and add in only the character(s) absolutely necessary to fill those holes.
Leave out subplots that aren’t *essential* to the main plot. Be sure that your final paragraph shows how the major plot points are resolved.
A synopsis can be dry reading, so you need to apply your creative writing skills to your first draft to make it more compelling. Your first paragraph needs to be intriguing. Add your voice to the synopsis by making it sound as if the main character were reading you the synopsis (i.e., they are telling you a story. But not in first person: use third person, active voice).
Personally, I love novels that employ the Hero’s Journey, so I want a synopsis to clearly show me that each of those steps is included in the story.
Come back next month because I will be explaining common items included in a publisher’s “Author’s Questionnaire”.
Leave a comment: What do you find to be the hardest part of writing a synopsis? Have any tips to share on something that helped you?
Blogging requires a balanced combination of vision, passion, craft, and energy. Comparison can quickly squelch your energy and derail your passion for writing. Whether you are new to blogging or a seasoned pro, comparison can kill your blogging confidence.
One of the great temptations for writers and bloggers involves the trap of comparison. We constantly see the success of other writers through social media, conferences, and networks. Traffic stats and social media engagement are inescapable even when you try to ignore them. Comparison can creep into your thoughts in many different forms.
For me, one of the greatest challenges in blogging has been learning craft and building a following without falling into the pit of comparison. When I read a great post and see high stats of likes and shares, I often compare my writing and engagement. I can leave the website feeling discouraged rather than benefitting from the great content I’ve just read. When this happens, my thoughts are about me rather than appreciating the gifts and skills of the other person.
Have you struggled with the problem of comparison in your writing?
Creativity thrives on being different and original. When we compare our content to other writers, it can be easy to try to emulate what works for someone else.
The blogging world is enamored with How-to content and numbered lists. Most of this is aimed at increasing reach, but it can also kill creativity. One look at Pinterest demonstrates this point. Most pins of blog posts now use successful formulas for titles. Success is great, but now too many blog posts look and sound the same. I’ve followed the formulas and written much of this kind of content. This post is a numbered list because it was a clear way to communicate my message.
The artist in me rebels as creativity bows to comparison and the desire to be as successful as others. The key here is balance. Don’t disdain formats that work, but be creative and personable with in the template. Also, write a variety of content that doesn’t adhere to formulaic structure.
[bctt tweet=”Is copying the new creativity?”]
Comparison fuels discouragement much like throwing gasoline on a fire. It can ignite quickly and be very destructive.
Recently I was thrilled to have a post featured on the popular devotional site, (in)courage. Like it or not, the social media stats are prominently displayed. You can’t not look at them.
My joy deflated as I realized the stats were not anywhere close to the regular bloggers on the site. It was hard not to receive that as a message that my writing wasn’t as good as others. For a short time, I let comparison steal the delight of success in posting on an well-known website. Rather than growing in confidence, I struggled with discouragement because my post didn’t draw the same amount of engagement as others.
Believe me, comparison is a nasty friend.
Comparison is also a fickle friend. When we are on the short end of comparison, we can wallow in “Not Good Enough” thinking. However, if we rate our work or performance higher than others, we can teeter into the “Better Than” territory of pride. Pride can create divisions and puff up egos, as well as spark criticism. Pride can kill confidence from the other direction, prideful thinking is just as destructive to confidence in that it warps a realistic perception of ourselves.
This verse from the message motivates me to avoid comparison:
That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:26 MSG
Particularly for new writers beginning the blogging journey, comparison can kill confidence. 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.
You’ve finally got your novel all polished up and ready to submit to a publisher. How is this done?
These days, most publishers will have detailed instructions on their website, so start there and follow them carefully! Do not create a generic submission package and send it to everyone. You must customize it for each publisher. As an editor, it is very convenient for me to quickly reject a submission package that doesn’t bother to follow the instructions. Why would I want to work with someone who can’t follow instructions?
Here is the Writer’s Information page for HopeSprings Books:
http://chalfonthouse.com/hopespringsbooks/about-hope-springs-books/author-information/
We ask for a query letter, a 3-5 page synopsis, a filled-out Author Questionnaire, and the entire manuscript. Let’s look at these items in more detail over the next few columns.
If you have an agent, putting together submission packages for different publishing houses is one job that they should do for you. Some agents only create a generic submission package with minimal customization (editor name and address, and other small details) and assume that acquisition editors will be okay with this. For example, one agent that submitted to HopeSprings Books sent a query letter, a synopsis, and the manuscript, but not our Author Questionnaire (which I consider to be a critical part of the submission). So ask your agent how much customization they will be doing. If they don’t plan to create custom packets, see if they will give you a list of the houses they plan to submit to and ask them to wait for you to give them more information. Then you create any extra materials the house expects and get it to your agent as quickly as possible.
This column will examine the query letter.
AlmostAnAuthor writer Cherrilynn Bisbano has an article titled “Query Letter Basics” which is a general overview, but tailored for magazine article writing. Several of the elements apply to novel writing too. Cherrilynn describes a query letter as a sales letter from the writer to the editor to describe the offered material. A query letter for a novel is similar to a cover letter for your resume when you’re applying for a job. [Tweet this]
So what should be in it?
Greeting: Address your letter to a specific editor and be sure to spell their name correctly.
First paragraph: Grab the editor’s attention and show them you can write. One way to do this is to start with your proposed back-cover copy (which should only talk about the first 25% of the storyline). Alternatively, your paragraph can summarize the entire story: the setup, major disasters, and ending. I urge you to use Step 1 and Step 2 of Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method (http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/) to help you craft this paragraph.
Second paragraph: Convince the editor that your novel is a good fit for the publishing house. Show that it is in the word-count target, in a genre they publish, with a reader take-away that aligns with the publisher’s mission. Address any other guidelines or topics that are mentioned on the publisher’s submission information page.
Third paragraph: A brief biography that only talks about why you are qualified to write this novel. Have you published other novels in this genre? Won any awards in this genre? Did you do any special research for the book? Do you have relevant life experience?
Fourth paragraph: Thank the editor and say that you look forward to hearing from them. Be sure to include all of your contact information with your signature.
General formatting is: 12 pt, New Times Roman, single or 1.5 spaced with one-inch margins all around. Check to see if the publisher has any other formatting requirements.
Come back next month and we’ll talk about the synopsis part of a submission package.
What other elements do you think could go in a query letter for a novel?
We’re looking at Donald Maass’ The Fire in Fiction. @DonaldMaass #FireinFiction
I’m on a quest to learn more about writing and share it with you, Today, we’ll talk about Chapter 1, Protagonists vs. Heroes.
“…think about the people whom you deeply admire. Who are the individuals for whom you would cancel other plans? Who stirs in your awe, respect, humility, and high esteem? Are these regular people, no different than anyone else? They may not be famous but they are in some way exceptional, right? Click to Tweet
The tagline to Donald Maas’ The Fire in Fiction is “passion, purpose, and techniques TO MAKE YOUR NOVEL GREAT.”
The book covers everything from characterization, the story world, scenes, dialogue, and voice. Each chapter has a set of practical tools dealing with each section from that chapter. As an example, I’ll talk about Chapter Three, Scenes That Can’t Be Cut.
Generally, when writing, then self-editing, you go back and determine whether or not any given scene moves the story along and how important it is. I can’t remember how many scenes I actually cut from “Meghan’s Choice.” I learned a lot about how to decide whether a scene was important enough to keep. This book was recommended to me during that time. I’ve read parts of it as I continue to learn my craft.
The first Maas does in this chapter is to define what a turning point is. “What change takes place? When does that change occur (at what precise second in the scene)? In that moment, how is the point-of-view character changed?” From there, he continues to discuss inner and outer turning points. (pg. 56)
Turning then to dialogue, Maas says, “A common downfall of many scenes is dialogue. The characters talk, talk, talk, but scenes spin in circles and don’t travel much of anywhere…Dialogue not only needs to do its own work, it also can bring clarity to middle scenes that would otherwise be muddy and inactive. Dialogue is strong (or can be). The process of stripping it down and finding the tension in it can be revealing. It can help define the purpose of a scene.”
First and last lines of scenes are also important. Here’s what Maas says about them. “First and last lines need not be fancy. Even a utilitarian line can work well if it yanks us straight into, or amplifies, a scene’s main action.”
Another section he called “The Tornado Effect.” I loved this because I put a tornado in the middle of my novel. “Novels need events. Things need to happen: little things, big things. Especially big things. Big events shake protagonists, change the course of lives, and stay in readers’ memories.”
At the end of the chapter are the Practical Tools. For this chapter, the tool section is divided up into several parts: 1) Outer & Inner Turning Points, 2) Down Dialogue, 3) Goal & Setting Back, 4) Scenes That Can’t Be Cut, and 5) The Tornado Effect.
Here’s the tools list for Setting Goal & Setting Back
“Step 1: Write down what it is in this scene that your protagonist or point-of-view character wants.
Step 2: Create three hints in this scene that your protagonist or point-of-view character will get what he wants. Also, build three reasons to believe that he won’t get what he wants.
Step 3: Write the passages that express the results of Steps 1 and 2. In rewriting the scene in the next exercise, incorporate those passages. Eliminate as much else as possible.
Discussion: Just as stripping down dialogue helps punch up a scene, reducing a scene to a few strong steps toward or away from a goal also lends force and shape. Many authors wander through scene drafts, groping for the point. You can do it differently. instead, start with the point and enhance from there.” Pg.78-79
So, fire up your fiction. Make your novel crisp and strong.
If you’re a novelist, what are your strengths? Do you know them? How about your weakness? Do you know that? My strengths were told me by my mentors. They are, and I call them CRST: 1) characterization, 2) research, 3) storytelling, 4) teachability (in other words, I’m easy to teach because I’m hungry to learn). My weaknesses (things I have to watch for) are: 1) on-the-nose writing (too much extraneous detail), 2) repetitive use of the same word or phrase, 3) POV head-hopping, and 4) telling vs. showing.
If you like this post, leave a comment and let me know.
I hope that you, as a writer, do a LOT of reading!
I think there are three types of reading you should intentionally schedule into your life:
I’m sure you already know you should read books that teach you how to write creatively. I don’t think I need to lay out a full argument of why you should do this, so I won’t waste your time. Here are a few books that I recommend:
My suggested goal: 1 section a day; no more than one chapter a week. You need time to absorb and consider the advice, time to figure out how to apply it. I recommend you immediately do a quick editing pass based on what you learned in the one section/chapter. The sooner you apply it, the more likely you are to remember what you learned.
There are a LOT of craft books out there. Leave a comment with some of your favorite craft books!
I scan the headlines of quite a few blogs and email newsletters each day. I do not click through to read every article. Here are a few of the sources I scan:
My suggested goal: 10 minutes a day. Again, analyze everything you read to see if you can immediately apply it to your writing or your marketing.
Leave a comment with one (or more) of the industry blogs or newsletters you follow!
This is different from reading for leisure. When reading for fun, go ahead and read any genre you choose. But reading for leisure should only take place AFTER you have read for skill development. You are trying to be a professional writer, so you must intentionally act like one.
Believe me, I know you are BUSY. And you barely have time to fit writing into your day, much less reading. BUT…
Can you imagine a paint artist who said they were too busy painting to go to art museums or to art galleries?
Can you imagine an executive chef who said they were too busy cooking to go to menu tastings of their competitors?
Can you imagine a sports team who said they were too busy training to analyze game play videos of their arch rival?
So, please! Stop the excuse that you are too busy writing to spend time reading. [Tweet this]
I am willing to assert that writers who don’t read in their genre will not improve as quickly as those who do. Writers who don’t read in their genre may never improve their craft. [Tweet this]
Think back to your youth. (Ugh, how long ago was that?) How did you learn about creative writing in English class in high school and college? Was it all just writing exercises from a technical viewpoint? No, you read. A lot. Recall those reading lists. You may have even had required reading during the summer to prepare for the next semester. I’d actually bet money that you never read a writing craft book in high school or college unless you majored in creative writing. Style manuals don’t count.
After you read, you analyzed. You learned about imagery, characterization, dialogue, and narration. Then you read another book and analyzed some more. You wrote essays comparing and contrasting this and that.
And MAYBE you did one or two writing exercises of your own per semester.
So, why would you think that now that you’re trying to be a professional writer that you could stop employing this method of strengthening your skills?
What should you read? Start with award winners and best-sellers. Here are a few lists to get you started.
Leave a comment with other lists of award winners that writers should examine!
When you have one of these books in hand, what should you be looking for? Make yourself a worksheet that includes these items:
See if you can figure out what made the book win an award. How can you learn from that author and make your writing better?
Another benefit of reading in your genre is that you will be well-prepared to write the “Comparables” part of your book proposal. You will already know what is out there, because you read it. You will be able to tweak your story lines to be similar and yet unique because you know what is out there.
When evaluating an imprint or a press that you are considering working with, you should definitely read a couple of their recent releases in your genre. Does your work have a similar feel or is it so different that your book would not be a good fit? Is the editing done well? Do you like the book cover?
It really comes down to a matter of your priorities. If you want to improve your writing craft faster, I urge you to make reading a higher priority. As the meme says,
My suggested goal: Two genre books each month. This is about 3 chapters a day.
Leave a comment:
When drafting your novel, then self-editing, go back and determine whether or not any given scene moves the story along and how important it is. Your novel is only as good as your write it. Prepare your novel for publication while improving your craft. I can’t remember how many scenes I actually cut from “Meghan’s Choice.” I learned a lot about how to decide whether a scene was important enough to keep. #amwriting #fireinfiction
You sit down at your computer to write a new blog post. A blank screen is all you can see. Drumming your fingers on the desk, you wrack your brain for something to write about.
Sound familiar?
Author Lori Roeleveld teaches that blogs are hungry beasts that need constant care and feeding. In blogging, we regularly need to write new content, which can be challenging. There are days it can make you want to run screaming into next week!
[bctt tweet=”Incorporating a variety of shareable content and blog styles will supercharge your writing. #blogging #poststyles”] Successful bloggers generate new content by incorporating a variety of post formats. When it comes to formulas for blog posts, there are many to choose from, but not all will be a good fit for your style and focus. Experimenting with a variety of post types, I have found a selection that fits my inspirational niche. Consider a few of my favorite styles of posts, and try a few to invigorate your blogging to add to your portfolio.
Everyone has a story to tell, and story brings your reader directly into the experience. We all love a good tale that engages heart and imagination. From big moments to the small, mundane details, life is filled with meaningful stories to share.
How can story can make your message come alive with the authenticity of personal experience? Engaging anecdotes can stand alone—the joy of simply telling a story. They can also introduce concepts, engage readers, inspire action, or teach lessons—to name just a few ways story can add impact to writing.
Try opening your post with a story or use a short tale to illustrate a point.
Inspirational bloggers have a wealth of content available in the pages of the Bible. Compelling devotional content shares truth and impacts readers. Choose one short passage or topic so you have a clear purpose. Be sure to consider the context when writing about Scripture, and don’t take verses out of context simply to illustrate a point. Combining story and inspiration can take a Biblical post from didactic to relational with a few words.
How-to posts are both popular and shareable content. Simply take a look at Pinterest and survey the titles of posts. Instructional posts provide information on topics of interest to readers, increasing interest and engagement. Knowing the needs and interests of your audience will increase your ability to create meaningful how-to articles.
Areas of expertise and experience provide additional ideas for tutorial content. How-to posts that teach, train, or guide establish authority and credibility in your subject matter.
Try brainstorming a list of how-to posts that relate to your blog focus.
List posts can cover a variety of topics and are highly shareable content. Lists posts can teach, inspire, motivate, encourage. They can curate content and share resources as well. Content that reveals secrets (5 Secrets of ___), inspires action (3 Reasons You Should…), solves problems draw readers searching for specific topics or content.
Use this list to brainstorm ideas for list posts.
Number + Noun + Topic
Save this list for added inspiration.
Choose content that provides a solution to a common need of your audience. Addressing needs with practical solutions, helpful advice, or relevant resources creates value and influence with your readers. Solving a problem can also be presented as a story or experience. Encourage your readers by sharing how you have overcome odds, beat challenges, or achieved success.
What is one experience that solved a problem in your life? Write about it!
[bctt tweet=”Mixing media and providing value keeps things fresh on your blog. #blogging “]Incorporate visuals, printable graphics, video, links, or audio to create a strong impact. Try building a list of ideas you can use to create a benefit or takeaway for your audience. Begin adding variety over time, paying attention reader response. Short eBooks, printable lists, resource lists, pdf documents, or contest giveaways are additional ways to add extra value for your audience.
Which bonus could you most easily accomplish this week? Go ahead and try it.
Which types of post do you normally write? Which type of post will you try this week? Leave a comment and let me know.
Hi new friends. My name is Dina Sleiman. In addition to being a published author myself, I’m an acquisitions editor with WhiteFire Publishing, and I will be a regular guest here on A3. First let me applaud you for being involved with this blog. A teachable spirit is probably the most important ingredient to becoming a published author. You have to learn the craft and the industry, and this is an excellent starting place. To help you in this endeavor, I plan to offer some insider information that will give you a leg up when dealing with editors. As someone who sits on both sides of the desk, I think I have a unique perspective on this issue.
My first tip is this: editors are real live people just like you! That might sound a little silly, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget. Today I’m going to focus primarily on meeting editors in person, and I would venture to say that most of this is true of agents as well. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Editors Want to Have a Good Conference Experience. While editors come in a variety of personality types, they want to have a pleasant conference experience just like you. They might be shy and new to the conference and just as nervous about who to sit with at lunch as you are. Or they might be a fun-loving individual looking for someone to bounce their jokes off of. If you treat them like a person, ask them about their families and interests, you might just gain an actual friend who happens to be influential in the publishing industry. As is always the case in life, you will probably connect easily with some of them, and not so easily with others. That’s okay. Chances are the ones who like you will also like your writing.
Editors Want to Have Good Meetings with Conferees. Generally, editors don’t like being pressured, being given sob stories, or being told that God has mandated them to publish your book. They don’t like being chased or handed manuscripts under bathroom stalls. Beyond that, it’s a good idea to do some research on the editor and learn their preferences. Personally, I have a pet peeve about conferees who don’t answer my questions but instead push on with their sales pitch. On the other hand, I find nervous conferees kind of endearing. I think most editors like it when conferees are a nice balance of prepared yet casual. They enjoy a relaxed meeting. They like to have a conversation and not just listen to a speech. They like to see that you are excited about your project and that you’ve done your work to be ready for publication.
Editors Talk to Other Editors. Going to writers conferences and meeting with editors is an awesome idea…unless you have a pushy, annoying, or otherwise abrasive personality. In which case, you might want to think twice. Editors talk to other editors, and you don’t want to get a bad reputation in the industry. If you discover that you’ve committed a serious faux pas (I‘m not talking about passing manuscripts under stalls or using the wrong font here, we’re used to that stuff), it might be wise to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology.
Editors Have Preferences about Submissions. For starters, most editors only want submissions from agents these days. You will not do yourself any favors by disregarding their wishes. If they do take submissions, shockingly (note the sarcasm) they put their guidelines right on their website, and they expect you to follow them. What if they just say something general like “a query letter” or “a proposal”? That should indicate two things to you, 1) They aren’t terribly particular, but 2) they do expect you to do your own homework and to provide these documents to a general industry standard. Don’t know what that is? I repeat—do your homework.
Editors Represent Companies. Editors might seem like all-powerful gods to authors, but they have to answer to their employers just like anyone else, and they also have to win the approval of their publication committee and marketing department. If an editor chooses your book and it does poorly, it could negatively impact them. They have an obligation to represent their company’s lines and needs, and part of your homework is to make sure you are sending your work to the right companies. You could have an awesome book that the editor loves, but whether or not you get a contract will still be largely based on the company’s specific needs and available slots at that moment. Editors want to please their employers and keep their jobs just like anyone else, which is why being stubborn or pushy about a book that doesn’t fit their line will only put you on their naughty list.
Editors Have Personal Taste. In addition to representing their companies, editors also have their own taste. You might find that within a given publishing house one editor prefers plot driven fiction, another deep characters, and a third is a sucker for a great voice. That’s why you can’t take rejection too personally, and you must keep trying and trying. It’s entirely possible that you might send an editor an awesome novel, but they have read two similar bad ones recently that negatively color their perception. Or worse yet, they might have just read an off the charts awesome book in your genre, and therefore yours seems lackluster in comparison. It happens, and there’s nothing you can do about it but persevere.
Editors Care about People They Know. And so that pretty much bring us back to the first point. Let me be clear. I’m not talking about nepotism. However, I think it is simple human nature that editors will give more time and attention to submissions by people that they know and like. They’ll feel more confident about publishing a book by someone they trust. It’s easy for me to send a simple, “no thank you” to people I haven’t met. Whereas someone I know in person is more likely to get suggestions for improvement with an invitation to resubmit. At the end of the day, publishers are only going to publish books they love and feel confident about. But given two books of equal merit, do you think an editor will push for the one by a friend or a stranger???
Yep, editors are people too. Don’t tick them off. Don’t annoy them. But if you can invest time into getting to know them as individuals, it just might bode well for your future.
Can you share any funny stories, cautionary tales, or suggestions about meeting with editors?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dina Sleiman writes stories of passion and grace. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. She serves as an acquisitions and content editor for WhiteFire Publishing. Check out her novels Dance from Deep Within, Dance of the Dandelion, and Love in Three-Quarter Time, and look for her Valiant Hearts adventure/romance books, Dauntless and Chivalrous, with Bethany House Publishers. For more info visit her at http://dinasleiman.com/
The world of book publishing has been changing rapidly for a few years, and lots of vocabulary is changing too. What is the difference between being “traditionally published” and “independently published”?
This is where we can start a huge brawl about the definitions of these terms.
Many would say that “traditionally published” means that the book is produced by one of the Big Five publishers: Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster (and all the brands they own).
Thus, independently published means the book is produced by anyone else. But ‘anyone else’ can cover a lot of ground, including: small press, micro press, vanity press, and self-publisher.
“Indie publishing includes small/micro/vanity press & self-pub” [tweet this]
Traditional Publisher: Purchases the right to publish and sell a manuscript; highly selective about which submissions will be selected for publication. Large presses pay an advance on royalties, smaller presses often don’t.
Small Press: A publisher with annual sales below $50 million and/or publish an average of fewer than 10 titles per year. May or may not offer an advance.
Micro Press: Even smaller (in terms of sales and published titles per year) than a small press. May offer an advance, but probably doesn’t.
Vanity Press or Subsidy Press: Any publisher where the author is required to buy something as a condition of publication.
Self-Publisher: a publisher that publishes the work of exactly one author (the author and the publisher are the same person). The author bears the entire cost of publication and marketing. The self-published author may do all publishing tasks themselves, or may buy services for some or all of the tasks. However, if an author buys *all* services from a single source, that author might be involved with a vanity press.
Self-Publishing Services: Sell authors *some* of the services needed to publish, but not an all-inclusive package.
What do you think of these definitions? Do you have different definitions?
How do you know your story is worth telling? How do you evaluate whether or not your idea is a good one? Will it be a “page turner” or a “book closer?”[bctt tweet=” Will readers stay up just to finish the book of your idea, or will they go to bed early? #pageturners #amwriting #writing ideas”]
In my first post on this topic, I talked about what I liked, what I looked for. I look for unusual things and people. I dig deep to look for the obscure, something that maybe needs to have light shone on it. I look to find the opposites in things, especially when I’m crafting a story. And I look for the extreme. I just read No Safe Haven, by Kimberley and Kayla R. Woodhouse. This is an extreme book. Kimberley and Kayla are a mother-daughter team, and they wrote a gripping suspense thriller in the extreme. A lot of Ronie Kendig’s military suspense books also hold the extreme. These books are page turners.
In my Craftsman class, our first lesson was how to get writing ideas and where to find them. We are a media-driven society, so use your media to help you find interesting and compelling ideas. One thing I love about FanFiction.net is that there are so many story permutations on the same theme that everyone tells a different angle. I first heard of FanFiction while watching JAG, several years after the show ended on network TV. FanFiction readers and writers came up with a bunch of ideas about sixth season cliff-hanger “Adrift.” If this had been a book, it would have been one of those page turners you can’t put down.
If you’ve never seen JAG, it’s about navy lawyers. The main character, Harmon Rabb, Jr. is a former Top Gun-type pilot turned lawyer for the Judge Advocate General’s office. At the end of the sixth season, the woman he’s secretly in love with for years is about to marry another man. Harm promises to be at the wedding, but decides to squeeze in his “quals” – his qualification flights to continue pilot certification. The cliffhanger has Harm crashed in the ocean in the middle of a severe tropical storm. That summer, numerous ideas about how “Adrift” would end abounded on FanFiction. None of them got it right. One, if I remember, was sort of close, but the creativity of the different scenarios was interesting to read, especially since I knew how it ended. He is finally found because Colonel Sarah “Mac” McKenzie does a sort of psychic exercise that helps people know where to look. She postpones her wedding until Harm is fully recovered from hypothermia. This is the nutshell version. The final scene of “Adrift” takes on a different twist. (spoiler) Mac is adrift in the rain without comfort from fiancé or best friend. The creativity from writers speculating how they would end that episode is the point.
What about you? [bctt tweet=”How do you evaluate whether an idea is a good one or not? What’s a page turner for you? #pageturners #amwriting #writingideas “]
Remember the insecure days of adolescence? We changed looks, styles, and personalities as we tried to figure out this important question: Who am I?
Back in the day my hair styles vacillated from straight to curly and from Farrah-Fawcett wings to teased up bangs. Some days I was the outgoing cheerleader and other days the quiet bookworm.
When it comes to blogging, it is important to choose a personality that fits you. Your topics may vary, but readers depend on your persona to remain consistent.
[bctt tweet=”A well-developed blogging personality fosters loyalty from your readers.”]
Which one of these personalities best fits your purpose and writing voice?
Is your blog tied to expertise you have in a subject? Are you an authority with experience and knowledge to share? Are most of your posts informational? Are people coming to your for answers and information?
The reporter conveys facts and information in a journalistic style. Do you comment on current events? Is your focus to share information about what’s happening?
The friend comes along side with a conversational tone. Friendly and empathetic, do you share confidences and build relationships?
The storyteller master’s the art of story. Posts have a narrative influence and pull the reader into the midst of something happening. Stories are an effective way to entertain, to evoke emotion, illustrate points, teach lessons, inspire changes, and even to sell ideas or products.
The helper shares a wealth of practical information and how-to details. Filled with ideas and tips, the helper becomes a go-to source for projects and advice. Generally, the Helper has a friendly, you-can-do-this tone.
The Motivator has the ability to move people to action and change. Motivators build energy and create movement in readers. Flavored with positivism and inspiration, these personalities are popular with blog readers.
Cheerleader’s create enthusiasm and build confidence in readers. We’re in this together and You can do it are trademarks of the cheerleader’s influence. Similar to motivators, cheerleaders help readers achieve success and reap practical benefit.
Presenting information and benefits, marketer’s engage audiences with the aim to sell a product or build an organization. Today’s marketing bloggers cultivate relationships, offer free incentives, and build loyalty in order to effectively convert traffic into sales.
Similar to the Reporter and the Expert, Analyzers fall more into the informational vein of blogging. Opinions, surveys, reviews, and research are a few of the tools preferred in this style of blogging.
New bloggers often try out different personalities and styles before settling into a consistent voice. This is a natural part of the development of a writer. Give yourself time to discover your blogging personality. If you aren’t sure about your blogging persona, ask for feedback from people you trust to give an honest opinion.
Another helpful tip is to evaluate the personality and style of your favorite bloggers. Can you pinpoint a consistent personality? How do they convey personality–through attitude, tone, language, topic, emotion, information? As you learn how other writers show personality, you will learn new ways of sharing your unique voice.
Effective bloggers develop their personality, voice, and style with consistency. A well-developed blogging voice builds trust with readers who have chosen to follow your blog. [bctt tweet=”People read blogs for a variety of reasons, but a strong, consistent personality keeps them coming back.”]
What’s your blogging personality? What blogging personalities do you enjoy reading?
Writing a book can be hard work. Then you polish it: more hard work. Then there’s the hard work of finding a publisher and getting a contract. Ah, at last you can rest from your travails, right? Nope! Lots more hard work ahead, I’m afraid.
Be wary of any publishing house that takes your book to print without doing an editing pass themselves. Even if you paid for editing from another service. Each publisher will likely have their own style preferences that require an editing pass. In addition, they employ editors whose job is to (gasp) edit your book to make it the best it can be (in their opinion, which the house values as evidenced by employment). Beyond the standards of grammar and punctuation, each editor will have their own approach to polishing dialog, point of view, character and plot arcs, and narrative. No book is perfect. Ever. Even after it’s published.
Handling this editing can be emotionally difficult. It can feel like criticism, and sometimes not even like constructive criticism. Your book may have already been critiqued by your writing friends. You may have already paid for professional editing. And yet here is your baby, all marked up with comments and suggestions. You may wonder if you have made a mistake in choosing to work with this publisher.
Don’t interpret edits as a personal commentary on your story, your writing, or you as a person. The editor is simply attempting to improve your book according to their experience and their understanding of what will work in the market. Yes, perhaps editors could occasionally phrase their comments more tactfully. Just keep reminding yourself that edits are not meant as a personal attack, and that encouragement is not necessarily the primary purpose of the editor – that’s mostly the job of your friends, family, and agent.
So if receiving edits makes you feel depressed, try these three steps.
What is it about a story that makes it compelling? Is it the characters? Is it the plot? Is it the element of surprise? Is it the challenges? Is it danger? I submit, it’s all of them, skillfully put together, woven like a tapestry to make an impression on our minds and in our hearts.
Very few people take a trip without a destination in mind. When we travel, good planning makes for a good trip. When it comes to blogging, there are key questions to planning an effective blog.
[bctt tweet=”Defining purpose, audience, and style creates a foundation for successful blogging.”]
Purpose and niche keeps bloggers focused and consistent with content.
When I started blogging, my purpose was to discover voice, learn craft, and share inspirational thoughts. As I got started, I learned the value of having a plan and a focus.
I would have benefitted from understanding the value of defining purpose and audience. With today’s massive volume of how-to information on blogging, it is worthwhile to do some research and planning before you get started.
1. Why am I blogging?
Begin with the why. Effective blogging requires commitment, time, and effort. If you don’t have strong reason for writing, you won’t stick with it. Answering the why, is the cornerstone of a purposeful blog.
2. What is the purpose of my blog?
Purpose gives focus to blogging. Are you creating a community, teaching ideas, inspiring action, selling a product, encouraging hope, sharing truth, swaying opinion, expressing passion, or exploring ideas? A strong purpose attracts an audience. Purpose also provides motivation to keep writing on the hard days.
Motivation and purpose relates to the niche, or the topic of your blog. What are you knowledgeable about? What are your interests? Passions? Needs? In today’s world you can find a blog on nearly any topic, so choose something that you enjoy writing about.
Designate your audience. Who are you writing to? Why should they be interested in your blog? Audience relates to topic, tone, and perspective. Are you writing to men, women, or a mixed group? What is the demographic and age range of your target audience? What are their needs and interests? What will compel them to read? Understanding your audience is key to creating relevant content for your reader.
5. What 3-5 topics will I write about?
Choose 3-5 main categories for your blog. Choose topics broad enough that there are plenty of ideas in each topic. Understanding your audience is helpful in refining the scope of your content. People who read mommy blogs are not reading for technology how-to’s or stock market tips. They are looking for content that relates to parenting. Audiences of food bloggers don’t want to read political opinion or unrelated book reviews.
Brainstorm ideas that relate to your topics and are of interest to your audience. Keep a running list of possible ideas and prompts. Use your list to plan content. It can also be a resource list to overcome writer’s block. I frequently use my list of ideas to inspire my writing when I struggle with what to write about.
6. How will I present myself (voice/personality/tone)?
What is your voice? What persona will you use? Think through the personality you will present to your audience. Are you an expert on your topic? Do you want to come across as a friend or confidante? Are you marketing a product?
Whether you are starting or refining your blog, take time to build a strong foundation. [bctt tweet=”Purpose, topic, audience, and personality are crucial to good blogging that appeals to readers.”]
Which of these questions will be most helpful for you?
The number of smaller publishers will continue to grow as technology enables more people to complete the tasks involved in producing a book. Many people consider a publishing house an “Indie” press as long as it isn’t owned by one of the Big Five companies.
So in the world of Christian publishing, who are some of these smaller publishing houses? And by “smaller” I don’t mean that some of these are tiny (some are) but simply that they aren’t Big Five.
[bctt tweet=”Who are some of these smaller publishing houses? #publishing #indiepub” via=”no”]
I’m sure there are others! These are from the list of Recognized Publishers from the American Christian Fiction Writers group.
In order to be considered for ACFW’s Recognized Publisher List, a publisher must meet the following criteria:
I like these criteria. They are good ones for authors to keep in mind when evaluating any publishing house that you might like to work with.
Earlier, I posted about what fuels your ideas, and I used “Early Edition” as one of my ideas. Someday I’d like to get into my head and pull out all of my favorite plot twists, events, characters, settings, etc.–wishing I could put them all together into one great idea list.
FBI Agent Laurel Evertson’s investigation in to a scam targeting the elderly takes an unexpected twist when key evidence leads her to Morton Wilmington, a felon she arrested five years ago on her first undercover assignment. That case has haunted her since, and though she’s vowed to forget Wilmington–and what she sacrificed to put him away–he is now her best lead.
Houston Police Officer Daniel Hilton fears his grandparents may be the scammer’s next targets, and he’ll do anything to protect his family–even force interagency cooperation. But he’s quickly drawn to laurel’s empathy and zeal and agrees to follow her lead…even if it means teaming up with a felon.
As the unlikely trio uncovers evidence suggesting the scam is more extensive and deadly than they imagined, both Laurel and Daniel find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer. Together they must decide if they can trust Wilmington’s claims of redemption, or if he’s leading them straight into a double cross.
[bctt tweet=”As the unlikely trio uncovers evidence suggesting the scam is more extensive and deadly than they imagined, both Laurel and Daniel find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer. “]
Copyright 2015, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. www.tyndale.com
Romantic suspense
Most of the characters are very believable. The major characters are Laurel, the FBI agent, Daniel Hilton, the Houston PD officer, Morton Wilmington, the reformed crook, who was sprung from prison early so he could help with the investigation, and Daniel’s grandparents, Abby and Earl Hilton.
Supporting cast includes Marsha Leonard, the director of Silver Hospitality, a senior center where the elder Hiltons spend their days. Two additional characters include FBI agents, Thatcher Graves, who will become the focus of the third book, and Liz Austin, an employee of Silver Hospitality who keeps coming on to Daniel.
The interaction between the three major characters, Daniel, Laurel, and Morton is interesting reading. Daniel, who is Christian, still suspects Morton’s faith is “jailhouse” faith, something to say to get him released from prison. Laurel, who has trouble believing in a God who would allow her parents to be murdered, never believes Morton was really converted. Morton is portrayed as much as possible, as a real Christian, who is not perfect, but who makes the effort. In the end, well, I won’t spoil it for you.
It generally moved along well. DiAnn is usually noted for unusual twists, but in this case, she was a little too obvious about who the real culprit was, even though that character didn’t “seem” to be the guilty party. It wasn’t apparent at first, but as the characters voiced their suspicions, it was almost a letdown when the truth was revealed, because it had already been suspected.
Other than that, I thought there was enough excitement to sustain reading.
[bctt tweet=”The three major characters move from one problem to the next, trying to solve the mystery.”]
I like that DiAnn creates stories and characters who seem real and who struggle with self-esteem issues, just like all of us do. She also tackled the issue of Alzheimer’s within the parameters of the plot and character development in the story. There are no easy answers, and the grandfather, Earl Hilton, has his good times and his wooly thinking times. A reader favorite (from posted reviews) is Abby, Daniel’s grandmother, who seems to take Earl’s condition in stride, never seemingly frustrated or angry herself that her husband slips by inches.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like. Like I said in the plot development section, I wasn’t surprised at who the person behind the conspiracy was, because there had been much suspicion cast on this person already, whereas in Firewall, whew! Didn’t see that one coming at all.
We’ve all heard the cliche, “Content is King.” The power of blogging depends on meaningful content. With the increasing numbers of blogs on the Internet, quality content is a must. Good blogging includes quality writing, compelling content, interesting graphics, and an effective format.
Make Your Words Matter
What do you have to say? There is only one you, and you have something to unique to share. That said, there are plenty of “slice of my life,” “ramble through my day,” and “vent on my pet peeves” types of blogs on the web. You’re welcome to add one more to the pile of “blah-blah-blah” posts that ramble without focus. No one’s going to stop you, but without meaningful content, few people will read your posts.
However, if you’re blogging to communicate with a specific purpose, take the time to use a variety of successful formats to enhance your message.
Building a list of effective content is key for every blogger.
Create a list of types of blog posts that fit with your subject matter and blog niche. A content list enables you to write with variety and still stay focused in your brand. Use your list to break through writer’s block on those frustrating days when you don’t know what to write about. Challenge yourself to practice a variety of types of formats, noting how your audience responds.
[bctt tweet=”A clear purpose gives clarity and focus to your writing.”]
Utilize the following list to write meaningful blog posts.
38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts
Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. Use this list of benefits and purposes to inspire your writing.
Meaningful content…
Format and purpose are two important ways to engage your reader with a powerful message. Enjoy blogging and experiment with form and purpose to increase the impact of your posts.
What can you add to the list?
[bctt tweet=”Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. #blogging #writer” via=”no”]