Author: Lisa E. Betz

Lisa Betz is a writer, blogger, and occasional director who lives in an empty nest perched on a wooded Pennsylvania hillside. She loves to bring characters to life, both on stage and on the page.

Categories
Bestsellers

Interview with Best-selling Author Sarah Sundin

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Burdened by his past, fighter pilot Lt. Adler Paxton battles the Luftwaffe over Nazi-occupied Europe as the Allies struggle for control of the air before D-day. Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges activities at Adler’s air base in England. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her programs for local children. Adler finds his defenses crumbling. But D-day draws near. And secrets can’t stay buried forever.

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

I write because I can’t stop. The stories won’t leave me alone. I never start a novel with a theme in mind, but the theme develops from the characters and what they’re learning.

In the Sunrise at Normandy series, the heroes are three brothers who are estranged from each other. Forgiveness is the overarching theme of the series, and each novel in the series explores forgiveness from a different angle.

How long have you been writing?

Almost twenty years now.

And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?

It took several years before I was ready to submit, and then I had five years of rejection letters before receiving my first contract. My first contract resulted from a submission to an editor at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and my first novel, A Distant Melody, was published ten years after I first started writing.

Which of your books is your favorite?

I have three adult children. I have no favorites. Same with my books.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?

In The Sky Above Us, there are some heart-wrenching scenes—I take perverse pleasure writing those. There are some action scenes—the hero is a fighter pilot on D-day—and those scenes were great fun to write. But the scenes I loved writing most were when Adler and Violet were together and bantering.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I write one book a year—that involves research, outlining, the rough draft, editing, and promotion.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

It’s definitely a full-time job! Since I’m not a morning person, I spend my mornings on emails, social media, and business aspects of writing. Over lunch, I read research books. In the afternoons, my brain kicks in and I focus on the actual writing.

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

I don’t think so. I don’t need special candles or snacks or music. When I started writing, my kids were little, so I learned to write anytime and anywhere. Even though I have a quiet empty nest and my own office now, those habits have continued.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

While contracts and awards are wonderful, my absolute favorite moments are when I receive a message from a reader that one of my books touched them deeply. When I hear that a story helped a reader through a difficult time, or that a character’s journey gave the reader a personal insight, or that God used a story to teach courage or forgiveness or humility—well, those fill me with incredible joy.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Probably a bad contest score at the end of my rejection-letter years. I felt very confident about my entry and was convinced it was my year. It wasn’t. What hurt more than the score—which was pretty brutal—was that I’d already submitted the same entry to editors at Mount Hermon. For a few days I was convinced I’d wasted years of my life in a futile attempt to get published. But family and friends and the Lord bolstered me. And that submission at Mount Hermon was the one that led to my first contract.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

I lost count. For five years, my first novel was rejected by just about every editor and agent in the business. But I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Not only did I improve in my writing and in my knowledge of the publishing industry, but the Lord used it to teach me about humility and His sovereignty and His perfect timing.

Where do you get your ideas?

All sorts of places—historical events, news articles, what-if questions, songs, even from a dream.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Too many to name!! I hate to list any because I might accidentally omit writers I love.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?

Patience, patience, patience. I received this advice over and over but resisted it. Over time I’ve learned to trust in God’s perfect timing.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

Rushing to publish. The advent of self-publishing has been a wonderful gift, but many promising writers now publish after—or before—the first rejection. It takes time to learn the craft of writing, and those rejections and contest losses teach you vital lessons.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

Writing conferences. I can’t recommend conferences highly enough. You learn about the craft and the industry. You meet publishing professionals and get to know them as human beings. You receive professional feedback and often have the opportunity to pitch or submit. And you meet other writers on the journey and forge lasting friendships.

Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of historical novels, including The Sea Before Us, The Sky Above Us, and The Land Beneath Us (coming February 2020) Her novel The Sea Before Us received the 2019 Reader’s Choice Award from Faith, Hope, and Love, When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and Through Waters Deep was a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award and won the INSPY Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California. Please visit her at www.sarahsundin.com

Facebook: SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: sarahsundin

Pinterest: sarahsundin

Find her books at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

ChristianBook.com

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for October, Part 2

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Writers Chat Book Review

In this episode, Johnnie Alexander, Melissa Stroh, and Norma Poore join together to review Cheryl St. John’s book, Writing with Emotion, Tension, & Conflict: Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and Compelling Novel. This book is jammed full of tips, techniques, and exercises to add emotion and depth to your novel. Some of the exercises call for watching movies as research. Who knew? So, if you’re in need of some fresh research ideas on emotion, tension, and conflict for your fiction, then this is the episode for you.

Watch the October 15th replay.

For resources and more information check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

Self-Publishing with Stephanie L. Jones

In this episode, Stephanie gives us her insights in to the world of self-publishing. She is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book, The Giving Challenge. Stephanie shares with us practical tips, from her insider view, as well as what to expect when embarking on the road to self-publication.

Watch the October 22nd replay.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link. 

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Keep Motivated

This year has been a year of crazy weather in the South with abnormally high temperatures late into fall. Georgia weather is always bipolar, but this year has been worse.

Just when we thought the mugginess of summer was gone and the crisp fall was here, de ja vu set in as record highs smothered the South.

The irony for me is I generally like warm weather because it helps keep me motivated and going in my outdoor activities. Although I bike year-round, cooler temperatures can suck the life out of a person with a brain injury.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the beauty of fall, but I know the ugly reality of SAD (seasonal affective disorder):

  • Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
  • Having low energy.
  • Having problems with sleeping.
  • Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight.
  • Having difficulty concentrating.
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty.
  • Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide.[i]

Add to these the effects of cooler temperatures on brain injuries and the outcome is almost paralyzing. Cooler months plus the holidays can make it impossible for writers to stay focused and keep motivated to write.

Motivated?

Webster’s defines motivation as, “A motivating force, stimulus, or influence:incentive, drive.” Often during this time of year most of us begin to focus on the holidays: the planning, shopping, and schedule rearranging can be overwhelming itself, much less waiting to see what crazy weather may be coming our way to throw a wrench in our schedules.

The additional stress of the holidays can suck the creativity out of writers like a vampire. During this season, while I’m physically struggling due to my disability,  I have to force myself into my home office and hope I can be creative instead of just looking out one of the windows as the leaves gradually change colors and drift off to their final resting place on the ground.

Recently, I searched online for some tips on being productive with my writing over the holidays. Writership.com suggests ten tips to keep our creative flow, flowing during this congested time of year:

  1. Know yourself – think about what distracts you and avoid those things. And if you can’t, devise a backup plan to help keep you on track.
  2. Remember your writing goals – keep your writing goals posted and in your line of vision so you can focus on that to help keep you motivated while holiday parties are calling your name.
  3. Stick to your routine as much as possible – although there are added commitments during the holidays. Keep doing all the things you can to support your writing.
  4. Schedule your writing time – figure out what you need to do to stay on track with your writing goals and schedule that in. If another activity requires your attention, then reschedule your writing time so that your writing doesn’t suffer.
  5. Lean on your accountability partner or group –let your support group know what’s hard for you and what you’re trying to achieve.
  6. Make use of the time you have – as Steven Pressfield says, ‘work in the cracks.’ Get up a little earlier; go to bed a little later. Use your lunch hour. Have your spouse watch the kids for an hour. Bring your writing tools wherever you go. Think about characters while you drive.
  7. Don’t give in to discouragement – if you miss a milestone, allow yourself to be disappointed for a few moments, and then get back to it.
  8. Say no when you need to – prioritize what’s important and say no to everything else.
  9. Prioritize self-care – among your priorities should be getting enough sleep, eating well, and moving your body.
  10. Continue under all circumstances – something will always compete with your attention, whether it’s the holidays, a day job, or a life-challenging circumstance.[ii]

I think the basic idea here is to work with what you have, something is better than nothing. 

Work with Whatever You Have?

This year I focused on building my platform on brain injury awareness. Whether connecting with survivors or caregivers online or in person, I always try to tell people to focus on what they can do instead of what they can’t.

Last month in an article published in a brain injury magazine, I discussed letting go of the past and what we used to do and instead focusing on the present and what we can do. Having a brain injury doesn’t mean my life is over, just life as I used to know it. I’ve learned to keep three thoughts in mind to keep me motivated:

  • Keep moving to keep momentum and stay moving.
  • Don’t make excuses, make progress.
  • Don’t wallow in self-pity; this is a season and it will pass.

For the most part, just like in life, seasons change and life goes on. When the weather blues get to you, look within and not around you to stay motivated.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[i] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

[ii] https://writership.com/news/2016/12/16/10-tips-keep-writing-through-the-holidays

Categories
Writing for YA

Interview with Author Judy Christie: Writing Across Genres

Sometimes writers have a hard time sticking to one genre. I’d thought I see what Judy Christie had to say about the topic.

DJS: You’ve written in a variety of genres, the YA series Wreath, the small-town series  Gone to Green, the Trumpet & Vine series, as well as nonfiction. Your new book, Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, was released last week on Oct 22. You co-authored this book with Lisa Wingate to tell the personal stories related to her bestseller, Before We Were Yours. You also are a journalist! What has been the greatest challenge about writing for different markets?

JC: Different genres mean recalibrating for different readers—and I have to make sure every genre aligns with who I am as a person and fits my writing brand. I try to keep readers in mind at all times, whether I’m writing a magazine profile or a novel. Hint: It’s easier to stick to one genre.

DJS: I know we aren’t supposed to play favorites with our book babies, but which project seemed more enjoyable or easier than others? What do you think made it so?

JC: Without a doubt, the new book, Before and After, is the most meaningful project I’ve undertaken; it was both hard to write and enjoyable. What a unique publishing experience—for a novel to inspire a true sequel. Being entrusted with these stories from such kind and loving people made the writing process extra intense. When I sat down to write, I felt like I was in the state of flow writers hear so much about. Plus, I had the pleasure of co-authoring it with the phenomenal Lisa Wingate, which was like playing with a friend while taking a master course in writing.

DJS: I’ve heard that a novelist should stay in one genre, but many of us are drawn to different stories and can’t help drifting into new territory. What has been the most difficult or challenging thing about writing for multiple genres and how do you think a writer can temper those disadvantages?

JC: I would definitely say: Don’t do as I do, do as I say. *smile* If possible, choose one genre and stick with it. Own it. Become the best at that genre so readers look forward to your next release and know what to expect from your work. An agent once told me that when an author changes genres, the reader feels like she went to her favorite Chinese restaurant and was served an Italian meal. I did not start out to write in different genres, but as I was building a writing career, I took opportunities that arose or wrote projects I was deeply interested in. The hardest thing is building a broad readership when you have a YA audience one time, a self-help audience another, Southern fiction the next. The way to temper that is to be true to who you are in everything you write so that your subjects and themes weave together in some way. 

DJS: What’s the best thing about writing in multiple genres and how can a writer make use of those advantages? 

JC: Exploring topics and themes from different perspectives and learning all along the way. Playing with words in totally different ways…. My first book, Hurry Less Worry Less, was about slowing down and enjoying life more, a topic that was so important to me that I had to write about it. But I wanted to write a novel about a big-city journalist who took over a tiny Southern paper. I had so much fun with the Green series. I’ve written a book column for a newspaper for about six years, and that has kept me plugged into publishing in a different way and also keeps deadline skills in good form. Nonfiction worker lets you meet so many good people doing good things. I choose projects that matter to me.

DJS: I’ve often noted a thread of encouragement in your writing. What encourages you to keep writing? 

JC: That is such a kind thing for you to say because that is my goal in whatever I write. I love telling stories, and that led me into journalism and has stayed with me all these years. Putting words together is a pleasure to me—whether in my journals, which I’ve kept since I was 11, or in a novel that I’m brainstorming. And it is my hope to encourage, entertain and maybe even enlighten.

Thank you, Judy!

Readers, if you’d like to read an interview I had with Judy about Before and After, visit my blog here.

Author Judy Christie has had 18 books published, including three Southern small-town novel series and is an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Sign up for her e-newsletter and a free guide to telling family stories at www.judychristie.com. Follow her on Facebook @judychristieauthor.

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

Categories
Novelists Unwind

Novelist Unwind Interviews Shawn Smucker, Stacy Monson, & Rachelle Dekker

Shawn Smucker writes stories with a poetic sensibility that makes me lose track of time and space. His debut novel, The Day the Angels Fell, won the 2018 Christianity Today Book Award and was a Christy Finalist. His next novel, The Edge of Over There, won the 2019 Christianity Today Book Award. We also chat about Shawn’s unique publishing journey, about growing up in the same place where his family has lived for thirteen generations, the trustworthiness of our memories, and the intriguing nature of an unreliable narrator.

Award-winning author Stacy Monson was one of my first guests when I started Novelists Unwind a couple of years ago. it’s such a joy to have her back again to talk about the Mosaic Collection, an international group of authors who have joined together to bring you compelling inspirational fiction. In our chat, we talk about how Stacy’s love of the mountains inspired her setting for When Mountains Sing, a deeply emotional story of a young woman’s search for identity.

Rachelle Dekker, whose debut novel The Choosing won a Christy Award, grew up in a home filled with conversations about discovering spiritual truth through story. In our interview, Rachelle talks about her writing journey–she wrote four novels before receiving her first contract–and what it was like to collaborate with her dad, Ted Dekker, on her latest novel. But it’s not all deep waters! Find out Rachelle’s secret dream job and the stories she loved as a child.

The next Novelists Unwind Giveaway will be announced on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at http://www.novelistsunwind.com. Be sure to enter for your chance to win a print edition of an amazing inspirational novel.

Meet Johnnie

Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won’t forget. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, made the CBA bestseller list. She writes contemporaries, historicals, and cozy mysteries, serves on the Serious Writer, Inc. executive board, co-hosts an online show called Writers Chat, and interviews inspirational authors for Novelists Unwind. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy. Connect with her at www.johnnie-alexander.com and other social media sites via https://linktr.ee/johnniealexndr.

Categories
Romancing Your Story

Why Are They Attracted To Each Other?

In my last column, I wrote about the first meeting. Now that your characters have met, the first blush of attraction draws them toward each other.

Why?

Unfortunately, for the writer, it can’t be because we want them to be attracted to each other. That’s not enough. We have to develop an underlying reason for the attraction. In many romances, the first blush of attraction is their physical appearance.  That first reaction may not be enough to sustain a story, let alone a relationship. What stands out about that person that holds their interest?  

In Susan May Warren’s book How to Write a Brilliant Romance, she says, “It’s because they are at a place of Need in their life.”

They either may not know they have a need or are resisting it as a flaw. The hero or hero may not want to NEED anyone or anything because of past wounds. That they have met the person who tugs at the wall they’ve built around them makes them angry.

The writer must build in looks between the hero and heroine. What will they say to each other? Will they engage in banter to draw the other person to them? Or perhaps they’ll engage in sarcastic comments meant to drive the other person away. They could be professional, friendly, outgoing, or shy. Everything they do is based on the personality of the character you are creating.

What are they thinking? Their thoughts may be in direct conflict with what they are saying or doing. What they believe may be the opposite of what their hearts desire.

One thing neither can deny is that something is happening between them. That spark of attraction will continue to draw them together. Initially, they may blame it on having been thrown together by circumstances or another person. You are writing a romance, and even if their circumstances change, their attraction continues to tug them back together.

The attraction is the foundation from which you will build the tension that will carry them through the story. It will lead them toward having their wounds healed so they can give away their hearts.

On a personal note, here is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to the attraction scenes in some romances–the ones that make me want to throw the book across the room:  

When the heroine is otherwise a strong woman but upon one look at the hero and she can no longer think, move, talk, but simply stands there staring starstruck at the hero. Or when the hero wears a smirk and struts around as though to say “She likes me. She likes me.  I’m such a hunk she can’t help but like me.”   These types of scenes make me want to slap the hero and heroine senseless and shake the writer for crafting such a shallow scene.

Do you have a favorite or least favorite attraction scene? Will an attraction scene make you stop reading a book? If so leave them in the comments below.

Rose Gardner’s writing journey has come in two phases. The first was focused on contemporary category romance. After a break, she returned to writing contemporary heartwarming stories about love, hope, healing and the power of forgiveness. During the first phase of her writing she was a finalist in thirteen contests and won her category in seven including a 2007 RWA Golden Heart finalist in the Long Contemporary Category, and 2nd runner up in the Harlequin Super Romance Conflict of Interest Contest in 2008. More recently she won 1st place in the Blue Seal Award for General/ Contemporary/ Romance Novels at OHCWC 2017.

Categories
The Picky Pen

Punctuation Series: How to Edit Slashes

We’re toward the end of our self-editing blog post punctuation series, but it certainly is not the end of the self-editing blog posts! In 2020, I’m planning a fiction and nonfiction course available in this similar blog post format to help writers nail down those sometimes tricky nuances of self-editing.

And sometimes the tricks are small, like the slashes we’re going to cover in today’s blog post. But though they are small, they are mighty in presentation—because that’s been the focus of this series, to ensure our manuscript presentation is spot-on for agents, editors, and readers, and for you, because when our presentation is beautiful, it’s something to be even prouder of, isn’t it?

Using slashes is important for both genres: fiction and nonfiction, believe it or not.

You might think it strange using slashes in fiction. . . well, how about fantasy or science fiction, where there’s occasionally that word or turn of phrase that just requires the slash? Like, the Hyperdrive 437/895 or Sector 222 maneuvering into the 343/898 realm.

I’ll be referring to The Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition, chapter six.

You may have always known the slash as the slash. But there’s another name for it. Several, actually. Yeah, I didn’t know that either, but I think it’s really cool!

  • The slash / is also known as slant or forward slash. OK, those we know. . .
  • But—the slash / is also known as virgule. Say, what?
  • And, the slash / is also known as solidus.

I see now how the slash makes a good case for being used in fantasy or science fiction, ha! Those last two alternate words are definitely fiction-worthy!

Let’s dive into the few tips for using slashes correctly within our manuscripts.

Slashes can signify alternatives in our writing. (Chicago Manual of Style 6.106).

  • Using the slash is somewhat informal, but even in formal circumstances, it can be used more effectively than the longhand “or.” The slash is shorthand or slang for our writing.
  • Sometimes the slash can be used for alternative spellings or names.
  • Now, one minor point to notice with that last bullet:
  • If you’re using a slash and your phrase has more than one word (compound), then simply enter a spacebar space between the slash on both sides.

Ready for some real examples? Here we go!

  1. he/she  Philip/Phyllis
  2. and/or  World War II / Second World War

    Now, sometimes a slash makes better sense to replace “and” in a sentence. For instance, a Jekyll/Hyde personality, a BS/MS program, or an addition/deletion error. These slashes would refer to the phrases as an equal opportunity or offers both options, or includes both things.

Using slashes that span two years (Chicago Manual of Style 6.107).

  • If you’re using dates with the difference of one year, then a slash is a better option to use than an en dash.
  • For example, Between 1943/44 the US was in the thick of a world war.

Using slashes in breaks with poetry (Chicago Manual of Style 6.111).

  • We see poetry in both fiction and nonfiction, and knowing where to put those breaks is super helpful.
  • If you’re writing two or more lines of poetry, rather than using a comma at the end of each stanza, use a slash at the end of each stanza break.
  • For example, “A word is dead / When it is said, / Some say. / I say it just / Begins to live / That day.”

Using slashes with URLs and other paths (Chicago Manual of Style 6.112).

  • We see this mostly in endnotes, bibliographies, sources cited, etc. And sometimes we see them in prose, but not often. (Again, it’s also useful for science fiction genres.)
  • Slashes are great for URLs, file paths, and certain directions, including where to find something in Word.
  • With URLs, insert a slash with each part. For example, https://www.tishamartin.com/blog/. Or, https://www.almostanauthor.com/category/career/book-proposals/.
  • If you’re using any kind of resources page at the end of your book (this applies mostly to nonfiction), and a URL happens to be part of the resources used, it’s good to separate part of the link after the slash, not before. www.tishamartin.com/
    blog/.
  • With file path directions, it’s best to outline it this way for ease and clarity: To find Track Changes in Word, in the toolbar, go to Review/Tracking and click the down arrow to select Track Changes on/off or to see in Simple Markup, All Markup, or No Markup.

How’s that for a very brief introductory to using the slash that’s sometimes used but so often tricky to use?

Using the well-placed slash is important because your overall presentation makes a world of difference to your editor, agent, publisher, and readers. That may seem counterintuitive because the writing is equally important, but it’s the presentation that enhances your credibility as a writer. (Especially if you self-publish and are doing your own first-draft editing.)

Pro Tip :: I’m creating a few cheat sheets on some of the topics I’ve covered so far, and if you’d like to be in the loop for when they’ll be ready, just go to my website and email me, letting me know you’d like to be added to my Grammar List!! I look forward to seeing you!

Please take a minute and join in the discussion! I’d love to hear from you!

Conversation Time!! What kinds of things would you like to see in my upcoming Fiction and Nonfiction self-editing courses? This can be anywhere from finding the “need,” how to edit character, scene, or dialogue, or anything else that you have been curious about! Drop a line in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!

Tisha Martin writes historical fiction and nonfiction but also edits and proofreads for beginning and best-selling writers, professional editing agencies, and publishing houses. She has a BA in Professional Writing, an MS in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, affordable continuing education for editors. Active in American Christian Fiction Writers and The PEN, she appreciates the writing and editing communities. As Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for editors, she enjoys travel marketing and updating PENCON’s Facebook Page. Connect with Tisha on her website www.tishamartin.com and engage in the conversation.

Categories
History in the Making

Is This Story Historical?

History in the making

As a writer, I like to continue writing flash fiction or short stories while working on a novel. My head is just too full of ideas and characters to focus on just my big project.

Recently, I found a short story contest I thought I could enter. The rules were simple and they were asking for clean contemporary romance. I began to write and the story was flowing.

Then I had an interesting conversation with someone who told me that if I’m writing for Young Adult (YA), in order for it to be contemporary, the story has to include today’s technology – laptops, tablets, smart phones, etc. I wasn’t writing for YA so I wasn’t worried, but decided to search for a current definition of “contemporary” fiction. The definition I found stated that anything after World War II is considered “contemporary”. So I thought I was okay.

But a little doubt kept niggling at the back of my head. Therefore I went to the contest website and posted my question: What is your definition of “contemporary”? A few days later a response came: anything that includes current technology.

I was flabbergasted! I mean, I’m a 50+ woman and don’t really consider things from my youth “historical”, but apparently things like pen pals who actually write snail mail are. Today’s technology didn’t exist in my youth. Therefore, the story I had begun did not qualify for this “contemporary short story contest”.

The story came to an abrupt halt, but my heart was broken. I love these characters and want to tell their story, but now there isn’t a pressing reason. I have a real historical romance novel to finish revising and send out into the world. Therefore, I don’t have time to work on a story I thought was “contemporary” but learned in today’s world is “historical”. So sadly, this story will have to wait, and maybe, instead of a short story, it will become a full-fledged “contemporary romance” story.

What’s the point of this article and what does it have to do with writing historical fiction?

The point is that you may have ideas for more wonderful historical fiction stories than you might think. If you’re in the 50+ age group, you, evidently, have a wealth of experience you could use to birth an historical fiction story. As long as your setting doesn’t include any of today’s technology, you can claim “historical fiction”.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Categories
Guest Posts

He said, She said

Have you ever felt stuck using the same dialogue tags? It can creep in when we get comfortable with our writing. It’s the easy way to move on to the next character’s line of dialogue. But dialogue tags are a useful tool for writers to add imagery to their words. 

Take a simple group of sentences like these for example:

“Run,” she said.

“Where should I run?” he asked.

“To get help!” she exclaimed. 

Look familiar? We sometimes find this style of writing in young children’s books. As the writing level moves up, it’s appropriate to add more than simple tags to dialogue. It’s natural to get caught up in the action and forget to add the little flourishes our dialogue so greatly needs to enhance the scene. It’s effortless to hurry through dialogue with a simple “he said, she said.” But this is a missed opportunity to show more about your characters. 

For instance: “I’m alone and afraid,” she said, shivering.

What does that look like to the reader? How does the reader envision that sentence? We read what she says, but how does that look?

Let’s try that again.

“I’m alone and afraid.” Abigail rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. Her scalp prickled as she sat huddled in her bedroom closet with her cell phone to her ear.

This is a better visual of what Abigail is doing. We show the reader rather than tell them how she feels. It takes a bit more thought, but worth it to throw the reader right into that closet with Abigail.

Dialogue tags are a wonderful opportunity to show the reader what your character is doing rather than telling them. It’s also a great way to showcase your writing savvy.

 Readers often skip over dialogue tags like ‘said’, so they aren’t always necessary. If the dialogue is well written, readers will recognize the voice of their beloved characters before they read the dialogue tag. They aren’t needed for every sentence, so mix it up. Don’t slow down the reader’s pace with a needless ‘said’ or ‘asked’. 

How about the use of ‘exclaimed’? Let’s see how that looks:

“You’re stepping on my foot!” Jenny exclaimed.

This tells us the person is not happy having their foot stepped on. But what else is going on here? What if the author wrote it like this:

“You’re stepping on my foot.” Jenny’s face contorted as she tugged her shoe from under the elephant’s foot.”

Okay, an elephant is a bit extreme, but you get the idea. We can see how Jenny is upset without using a telling dialogue tag. 

Take advantage of dialogue tags as a chance to showcase a bit of your characters’ mannerisms. How about showing their physical attributes? Let’s take an example like this one:

“I don’t want to go to the doctor,” Jenny said.

Or could we toss in some description and say it this way:

“I don’t want to go to the doctor.” Jenny’s long, brown hair blew out the open window of the car as she clenched her teeth.

  These are alternative ways to show your readers rather than tell with creative dialogue tags. Have fun and spice up your writing with some action, description, and emotion.

Leann Austin has written over a hundred newspaper articles published in The Post-Journal and The Villager – Lakeside Edition. She’s also authored 16 stories for Primary Treasure magazine. She was the recipient of an honorable mention in Writer’s Digest 75th Annual Writing Competition. 

Leann blogs about her son’s journey with type one diabetes at leannaustin.blogspot.com. She also connects with her readers at her author page. Leann is a mother of four fabulous children and in her spare time she crochets newborn caps for the local hospital nursery.

Categories
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Market Trends: Is the Mystery, Suspense, Thriller Genre Alive and Well?

mystery suspense thriller

Should I worry about trends? Do I write what I want and hope it sells? Is the mystery, suspense, thriller genre still marketable?

“When we look at the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists, one genre that has surged in popularity is mystery and suspense/thriller.”

Jennifer Silverwood, NQD (Book Designs), 4.25.19

“Psychological Thrillers and True Crime are Taking Over Not Only Literature, but: Movies, Podcasts and TV Shows.”

Columbia.edu. 3.5.19

As of late September 2019, Goodreads.com reports two of their top five bestsellers are in the mystery, suspense, thriller genre. Amazon.com boasts two thrillers in the top six of their bestsellers.

Our genre continues to shine in the big leagues, encouraging news for those of us crafting puzzling mysteries, intriguing suspense, and fast-paced thrills.

Even though our genre remains desirable and marketable, awareness of specific trends in our industry guides us as writers.

Before we draft one word, trends help us select our book’s premise and plot, driving the attention we receive from agents and editors. Eventually, it aids in determining our success in book sales. Don’t waste time pouring our hearts into dead trends like vampires, so popular years ago.

Basic interaction between parent and child, man and woman, humans and natural elements doesn’t change, but specific circumstances do. Instead of placing teenage angst in the midst of vampires and werewolves, repackage the drama in an updated scenario.

Remember, “…the universal theme of “good versus evil” will always be a draw.”

Bestselling author M.J. Rose

If we write based on what’s popular now, our book’s thrust might be irrelevant when our work comes into print, often a year after a negotiated contract with a publisher.

“My suggestion when it comes to writing what you “want” to write is don’t narrow yourself to such a small hook. Authors who fall in love with a genre and then continually explore new and different ideas to write in that genre are far more successful than those who narrow their writing to one simple subject matter.”

Literary Agent Jessica Faust, 8.13.19

What about specifics for your novel?

In perusing top-sellers in our genre, recent ones utilize family drama as their core focus––missing spouse, child, or teens, unexplained illness of a child, domestic violence. Interpersonal trauma informs the plot of other recent bestsellers––disappearance after an internet-arranged date, an avenging sociopath, an apartment complex killer, a corporate killer at a team-building retreat.

What common threads continue in our genre? Great surprises, and good twists and turns keep the reader guessing. Interesting settings, and in some, the location serves as much of a character as the protagonist. Themes rooted in psychological pain, betrayal, and intrigue where no one is who they seem inhabit recent best-sellers.

In fact, one of the most publishable genres today is the psychological suspense thriller.

“Thrillers, by definition, are escapism. There’s a suspension of reality that the reader expects and which allows them to immerse themselves in the thrilling aspects of the story. To leave their troubles for a little while and enjoy the ride. And thankfully, that never gets old.”

Liz Berry

As always, a well-crafted plot with unique premises keeps readers riveted to the page.

What about our industry’s trends as a whole?

According to The Independent Publishing Magazine, people still want paper-in-hand traditional books versus e-books, which as of early 2019, were purported to be on the decline. Good news for those of us who yearn to see our book on the shelves of book stores and libraries. However, we live in a digital age and e-books are here to stay. We do well to offer our books in both print and digital format.

 As audiobooks gain in popularity, the Big Five Publishing Houses see them becoming a large part of their digital revenue. For both traditional and independent publishers, the big investment pays off.

Marketing and self-promotion are also a reality. Even if traditionally published, a strong social media presence is vital. Agents and publishers not only note the number of likes our posts receive, but also our level of engagement. Social media includes blogging and podcasting, even for those beginning a writing career.

Promoting is not just about the book, but about you as the author. Be certain what’s on your social media is who and what you want to represent as a writer.

“People follow you, then your book.”

Scott Mathews

A well-written book will find an audience, but research market trends before recording your first word.

Write well, my friends.

PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time, whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eight writing awards including first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First Impressions contest and the first place Tar Heel Award from the North Carolina Christian Writers. Write to Publish recognized her second novel with their first place Blue Seal Award. Her one-year devotional book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com. She is represented by Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

A ranch in Texas serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel set in west Texas. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a friend for life.

Connect with PJ at her website or Facebook.

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

You Wrote a Middle Grade Book. Now What?

You had an idea. You wrote. You slept. You wrote some more. You edited. You cried. (Just me? Oh. Okay. Never mind.) You shared. You revised. You reviewed. 

Now you wonder: How does my story magically leap from my hard drive to the shelf?

If you’ve already bought your copy of Writer’s Market, kudos to you. But if you’ve drafted a generic cover letter that you’re ready to send to every children’s publisher, editor and agent listed, I’d like to politely ask you to pause a moment. Put the postage stamps away, and keep reading. It’s going to be okay.

Ask yourself some tough questions:

1) Is the story well-told?

2) Is it within the generally recognized middle grade word count?

3) What books currently on shelf is it most like?

4) What makes yours different?

5) Who should read it? (the answer is NOT ‘everyone.’)

I want to talk about item number one, is the story well-told?

Of course you’re going to say ‘yes.’ You believe in your story (you should).

But the truth is, you need other writers to help you make this determination. You need a critique group, or an editor, to read your story and help you shape it into the best it can be. Make sure this happens before you begin the submission process.

Your critique group or editor will find plot holes, characterization issues, and continuity issues. They will find any awkward word choices, filler words, or phrases that don’t make sense to this generation of readers. You need this feedback, even when it’s hard to hear. It’s given with the desire to see your story on shelf.

Once you have received feedback and revised, and you can answer the rest of the questions above, you’re ready for the next steps in the process.

If you plan to self publish, at a minimum you will need to know:

1) how to format your manuscript for print and e-reader.

2) how to choose cover art

3) how to market your book

Click here and here for some additional excellent resources.

If you plan to pitch your book to agents and editors, you will need to:

1) research so you find the best agent/editor fit for your story

2) write a concise, persuasive query letter

3) possess patience by the bucket – this can be a slow process

4) separate yourself from your work – rejection is a normal part of the path to publication, not a reflection of your worth as a person.

The fact that you’re reading this is a great start. For what it’s worth, I’m traveling this road with you. AlmostAnAuthor has a number of resources that have helped and encouraged me along the way. What questions do you have? Let us know in the comments and we’ll find an answer for you.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers chat Recap for October, PArt 1

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Marketing Strategy Sessions Part 2 with Bethany Jett and Michelle Medlock Adams

These PlatLit partners were to partner up again to give us another round of mini strategy sessions. Life happens and schedules have last minute changes, as was the case here. Our dynamic duo was cut down to a dynamic uno. Do not be discouraged, Bethany brought her A game (as she always does). She brought power packed ideas for proposal or ideas of three guests—Annette Whipple with her children’s nonfiction work, Marlene Houk with her woman’s Bible study, and Stephanie L. Robertson with her dystopian YA fiction. If you need marketing ideas, come watch Part 2 of Marketing Strategy Sessions and get your creative marketing juices going.

Watch the October 1st replay.

For resources and more information check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

NaNoWriMo Preptober with Johnnie Alexander

“What in the heck is NaNowhatever you call it,” you may be asking. Well, the full name is Nation Novel Writing Month (often shortened to NaNo) and the goal is to write 50k unedited words in the month of November. (Rebels who write nonfiction can join in the fun and frenzy as well.) This is a tall order; not for the faint at heart. However, there are ways to make the process easier with preparation…the reason October is called, “preptober” by NaNo enthusiasts. In this episode, Johnnie Alexander will share tips and strategies on preparing to write a novel in one month. She is no stranger to NaNo, Johnnie has participated a few times before and two of her stories birthed in NaNo went on to be traditionally published. Come check out the episode with a strange name. Who knows maybe your next (or first) published book is waiting to be birthed in Nation Novel Writing Month!

Watch the October 8th replay.

For tips and resources on NaNoWriMo, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link. 

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
A3 News

Almost an Author included on Reedsy List

Almost an author is proud to be named one of the 50 Best Writing Websites of 2019 on Reedsy.com.

You can view the entire list here.

Thank you to all our talented columnists for sharing their thoughts and expertise.

Thank you to our readers for visiting, leaving comments, and sharing our site with others.

Everyone has an important and unique story to tell. Keep on writing!

Categories
Guest Posts

How to Use Music as a Writing Inspiration

As a writer, one thing that almost everyone will agree and accept is the fact that without inspiration, it is very difficult to go ahead with your work. You need to have a push and shove, especially when you feel your artistic part of the mind has abandoned you. Many people look for inspiration through different avenues. Some people take time off from writing and engage in other hobbies. Some go for a trip while some simply read other books.

Another potent method many writers engage in to find inspiration in writing is music. Music is the elixir of life for many. It can provide the necessary jog down the memory lane and get you on the right gear soon. If you are stuck in a rut as a writer and are looking at music for help to get out of it, this article might do the job for you.

What can music do for your writing?

There are different types of music which are extremely soothing to the mind. They can light up the creative hemisphere of the brain, which is incidentally also the hemisphere responsible for writing ability. Thus, there is a sort of synergistic connection between both. It also releases the feel-good hormone, serotonin, which can spark your writing skills again.

Music is also associated with certain moments and memories and can act as a recollection aid which will provide you the spark required. Last but not least, there is a certain groove or beat associated with different types of music which is also beneficial for inspiring you to write better. You can also take music lessons from an expert to create your music and make the creative experience more enriching.

Music helps you reach your writing goals

When you are starting or stuck in between, making a plan to move forward and setting writing goals becomes very important. These goals are mainly time-centric, and music can act as a good yardstick to measure time. For example, you can tell yourself that you will finish a certain portion until a playlist finishes, and then go about your writing accordingly.

Strategies for choosing your music

Music that relates to what you are writing

It is always better to choose music which is relatable to your writing for best results. If you are writing about love, grief, any emotion under the sun, corresponding music with the same emotion can do wonders.

Songs you can sing along

Some songs get stuck to your head, and the lyrics come out from your subconscious. These types of music—where you can sing along without much effort—can also be helpful.

Songs that remind you of a special day or someone

If you are looking for inspiration from a day or a person, the best way to remind yourself of them is to play the music that connects and associates with them. It will take you to a trip down memory lane and might be enough to give you the much-needed inspiration.

Music that gives you peace of mind

If your mind is disturbed, it will hamper your writing skills automatically. Therefore, always choose music that can provide you with the necessary peace of mind.

Inspirational tunes

Everyone has certain tunes that inspire them. Look for yours and utilize them to your advantage.

Types of music will help you focus while you write

Soundtrack for your novel

When you are writing a novel, certain soundtracks that go with the writing can help your writing.

Instrumentals like jazz or classical

This is for the people who are a purist in their writing. Their music choice also portrays that, and it is mainly in the form of classical music and jazz.

Electronic music

This is one of the best forms of music to get into the groove as advocated by many writers. It provides the necessary impetus.

Ambient noise

Putting on your noise-cancelling headphones and playing white and gray noise which are ambient can also work wonders as far as writing is concerned.

It must be clear by now that music is useful for getting the required inspiration while writing. Tap into your genre of preference and find the inspiration to start writing again.

Curtis Dean writes on behalf of Sage Music School where they base lessons on the science and research of the psychology of learning. Their effective teaching methods create confident and capable students who enjoy the happiness of making music.

Categories
Authorpreneur

Build a Brand: Identity

Indie authors often want to know how to build a writing brand. There are actually two sides of being a successful author: the writing side and the business side.

The writing side is self-evident, but many authors are surprised to learn that there is also a distinct business side to writing. Much like in any form of business, every author needs to cultivate relationships, build trust, and invest in his or her writing to achieve sales.

With this mindset, let’s define the word “brand.”  A brand is basically your identity in a business sense. I like how entrepreneur.com put it. “Branding is the process of creating a name, logo, symbol, and personality to represent your product or service (“Branding Definition – Entrepreneur Small Business Encyclopedia”, 2019).” This definition is useful because it clearly lays out what’s needed to create an effective brand. The three elements every author will need to integrate into the brand-creation process are:

To create an effective brand you need to establish an identity, a personality, and a memorable product—which in your case is a great book.

This article will provide three steps to establish the first element: an identity.

The first step in establishing a writer’s identity is to reflect on who you are and what you want readers to associate with your name. It’s important to remember that, as an author, your brand is typically your name. You are a business of one. Over time, your audience will associate your style of writing, your genres and subtopics, with your name (your brand). Reflect on the personal aspects to your life that helped you form your writing niche.

If possible, you want to build your brand around something that you’re already good at or something for which you’re already known. If people already associate your name with a particular skill, experience or topic, the foundation of your brand is already laid. Regardless of your audience size, you want to use that core group to help promote your message. For example, if you’re a cancer survivor and are writing about your experience, you may want to start carving out a niche that focuses on holistic wellness or the importance of positive thinking in adverse circumstances.

You want to be consistent with the products (or books) that are associated with your brand, because each one is going to reinforce what you’ve already written. While you can delve into multiple genres, be sure that your work has a common focal point that readers have come to expect.

But what if you aren’t known for a particular skill or are now starting out? That’s fine. Just make sure that at first you write in a particular genre or writing style so readers can associate your brand with a particular topic.  

Once you’ve begun to establish your identity, it is helpful to create a logo. We all associate the visual symbols with corporate identities. While authors have not traditionally recognized the need for a logo, without one they miss a low-cost, potentially high-yield opportunity to make people easily recognize and remember your brand. Writing is business and every author is dealing with readers who are already used to associating symbols with products.   

Craft a logo that incorporates your name, your “writing identity,” or a literary accomplishment. I was recently in contact with a Christy award-winning author who used a theme from one of her bestselling books as her logo. Why? It was easily recognizable and paid tribute to her accomplishment while subtly marketing her book.

But your logo doesn’t have to hark back to an accomplishment. In most cases, your name, written or designed in a visually-appealing way, works best.

Keep the following tips in mind as you take this important step in defining your brand identity:

If you’re self-publishing your books, you can integrate your logo with your book cover to give it a more polished feel. If you’re traditionally published, consult with your publisher’s marketing team to see if/how they’d like you to incorporate your logo on the final product.

Put your logo everywhere you can while including your website address, so viewers will be more likely to connect your site with your brand.

Finally, be sure that your writing and your logo reflects your creative personality. It is critical to learn from other authors while avoiding becoming other authors.

From a legal as well as professional standpoint, your work will be most effective when it reflects your nature, your life experiences and yourskills. Keep an eye out for my next article on building a brand: Powering up your Personality.

In my book, Write Business, I go into specifics on how to write your book with a specific audience in mind as well as how to effectively present your product to that segment of readers. If you need help building a branding model, I am happy to partner with you on your road to success.

JP Robinson gained experience in the marketing field doing promotional work for multi-million dollar medical facilities and non-profit groups over the past decade. He is an international speaker, educator, and prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction.

JP also conducts writing seminars in various parts of the country and heads Logos Publications, LLC, an emerging publishing and book marketing team.

When he isn’t writing or teaching, JP loves spending time with his wonderful wife and children.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

King Saul, Impatience, and Pride

A recent sermon at my church could have been written for writers. It revolved around impatience and pride.

The subject of this lesson was King Saul, who seemed to have everything going for him: talent, good looks, and the anointing of a prophet.

There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. (1 Samuel 10:2 ESV )

Despite his physical attributes, Saul did not consider himself anything special. So when the prophet Samuel spoke to him in a mysterious, anointing way, Saul was shocked: “Am I not a Benjamite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” (1 Samuel 9:21 ESV)

It was not long after that, Samuel took Saul aside, poured oil on his head, and prophesied that he was to be king. “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over His people? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.” (1 Samuel 10:1 ESV)

Yet despite this promise, Saul continued to doubt his abilities. When it was time for Samuel to declare him king before all the tribes of Israel, the shy Saul hid rather than be presented to the masses.

Probably many writers can relate to this fear of being in front of others. The fear of being inadequate. The fear of speaking because we are not good enough. We feel so humble.

Yet that same Saul, after being a king who successfully defeated enemy nations to protect Israel, developed another quality as well. He became impatient.

He had tasted success. And in that spirit of accomplishment, pride crept in. Was there nothing he couldn’t do?

One day, while awaiting the arrival of the prebattle heavenly blessing, the prophet Samuel was running late. Samuel was supposed to offer the sacrifice to the Lord before the Israelites faced the enemy Philistines. The people waited and waited, then grew scared. They began to scatter out of fear.

Rather than rallying the Israelites as their leader, he succumbed to impatience. Saul knew the sacrifice was only to be offered by the prophet, Samuel, yet he ordered the people to “bring the burnt offering here to me.” They did so and Saul took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice.

“As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came.” (1 Samuel 13:10 ESV) As soon as he had finished. Had Saul waited just a few moments, everything would have been different. And the kingdom would not have been taken away from him. The kingdom went to David, and Saul went insane.

I don’t know about you, but I can relate to Saul with his insecurities and doubts. I can also relate to his impatience. Haven’t I waited long enough to get a contract? Why is this writing journey taking so long?

And sometimes, after having a measure of success in the publishing world with contracts and/or awards, we might pop a few buttons on our shirts and strut around a bit. Sometimes, a measure of success can be our downfall if we grow too big for our britches, as my mom used to say. The britches of pride.

Remember Saul. He had experienced the empowerment of the Spirit of God to bring him success as he listened to the voice of that Spirit. Yet ignoring that inner utterance from the Lord as Saul did, caused his downfall. It could destroy us as well.

I encourage you to beware, because humility can turn into pride in a mere moment.

Carry on.

Elaine Marie Cooper has two historical fiction books that recently released: War’s Respite (Prequel novella) and Love’s Kindling. Love’s Kindling is available in both e-book and paperback. They are the first two books in the Dawn of America Series set in Revolutionary War Connecticut. Cooper is the award-winning author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany’s Calendar. Her 2016 release (Saratoga Letters) was finalist in Historical Romance in both the Selah Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She penned the three-book Deer Run Saga and has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. Scarred Vessels, a novel about black soldiers in the American Revolution, will release in 2020. You can visit her website/ blog at www.elainemariecooper.com

Categories
The Afterword

Sports Stories

A discussion of the future of words

Some editors say sports stories are the hardest stories to write because we already know the endings. But readers and viewers love them anyway! Even folks who don’t keep up with sports often find something to warm their hearts in an inspiring tale about runners, football teams, or soccer matches. Why are sports stories captivating even to people who aren’t sports fans? And why do sports stories carry their enormous power to create social change? To talk about that, Amy and Holland invited Dr. Tom LeGrand, a former sports podcaster, and Brendan Scott, an English teacher and a coach, to the table. Join the conversation below.

Dr. Tom LeGrand left left Gardner-Webb University where he worked in service learning and taught social entrepreneurship and innovation in order to take care of ailing family members and friends. He recently accepted an opportunity to serve as the Regional Director Carolinas for Impact America, which is similar to the service-learning initiatives he initiated at Gardner-Webb. Tom also has experience in radio broadcasting, podcasting, and writing. From 2010-2012, Tom co-hosted The Lettermen’s Lounge, a sports podcast that covered local, national and international athletics. It is a subsidiary of Jungle Gem Sports, LLC.


Brendan Scott earned a degree in English from the University of Colorado and then traveled to Guatemala where he taught writing, English, and physical education for three years at the Inter-American School of Xela. After returning to the U.S., Brendan earned a master’s degree in English Education at Regis University and began teaching high school English. He also coaches the women’s basketball and cross-country teams at Jefferson High School. Brendan recently married April, a librarian, after proposing to her on a trip to Harry Potter World. He blogs at Living Spiritually and Adventure With Brendan.

Listen to Part One

Listen to Part Two

Meet your hosts

Holland Webb is a full-time freelance writer and editor. He spends his days writing about higher education, B2B technology, and nonprofit organizations. His clients have let him write for U.S. News & World Report, The Learning House, The Red Lantern, and Sweet Fish Media. Holland’s favorite writers are Malcolm Gladwell, Olive Ann Burns, and Flannery O’Connor. In his spare time … are you kidding, what spare time? You can reach him through www.theafterwordpodcast.com or on Twitter at @WebbHollandLyle.

Amy Bowlin is a veteran teacher. She works with 6-year-olds in literacy intervention and shares with college seniors the art of teaching literacy. Balancing both worlds involves commuting which allows her to listen to her favorite podcasts, “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” “This American Life” and “Revisionist History.” When she is not traveling to Greece to work with refugees, she likes to write, hike, kayak and spend time with family and friends. You can reach her through www.theafterwordpodcast.com or on Twitter at @albowlin1.

Categories
Becoming an Author

Are Your Expectations for a Literary Agent Too High? Part 1

When I meet with writers at writing conferences, they aren’t always afraid to share why they want a literary agent.  

I want an agent who can help me become a bestselling author.

I want an agent who can serve as my energetic cheerleader, offering encouragement when I face self-doubt.

There’s nothing wrong with having certain expectations as you search for an agent. In fact, it’s a good thing! It’s important, as an aspiring author, to go into an agent/author relationship with certain goals and refuse to settle for an agent who cannot help you attain your author vision.

But what if you never find the perfect agent?

Let’s say you’ve received interest from multiple agents and realize none of those are “good enough” for you. Or what if, after signing with an agent, you soon realize this agent just isn’t meeting your expectations? Do you then call it quits and try to find one who might do a better job at fulfilling your requests?

Yes, it is important for aspiring authors to refuse to settle—but at the same time, overly-high standards can cause frustration to both the agent and the author.

Relationships that are focused on what the other person can grant us never turn out well. And when we demand unreasonable expectations in a relationship, then guess what? We will never learn how to have a healthy relationship. We will never be content, because we will always focus on what the other person doesn’t provide rather than what they do provide.    

So as an aspiring author, how can you set expectations that are both reasonable and necessary?

To answer that question, let’s take a look at what the job of a true literary agent entails.

A true literary agent should…

  • only receive 10 – 15% from their clients’ income on book deals they have secured (book advances and royalties). This means they should never ask for an upfront fee.
  • help their authors make wise decisions based on the current state of the market
  • shop their authors’ books to the right editors and secure the best publishing deals
  • negotiate publishing contracts on behalf of the author
  • support the author’s vision
  • keep the author informed as to when their projects are submitted and which house they have submitted to
  • stay informed on the publishing landscape
  • build relationships with editors at publishing houses
  • provide their authors with career advice, encouragement, and support
  • resolve potential conflict that may arise between an author and acquisitions editor
  • only send projects that are ready for submission

These are the standards by which aspiring authors should build their expectations. However, each agent is different. Agents have various work styles, methods of organizing the submission process, and personalities. Some agents are more hands-on and known as editorial agents, while others would prefer that their clients’ projects are professionally edited beforehand.  

The agent preferences will vary from author to author. There’s nothing wrong with this; however, a problem may arise when these preferences become high standards that are impossible for any agent to meet.

In the next post, we will discuss the tasks that literary agents are not required to fulfill. Hopefully this will help you to enter the submission process with a level head and healthy expectations. You will approach a new agent/author relationship with the right attitude, less likely to be disappointed, and ready to work with this agent for the long haul. 

What kind of expectations do you think it’s important to set when shopping for literary agents? Let me know in the comments!

Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show teens they’re not alone. Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as an Associate Agent at Hartline Literary Agency, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. Tessa’s first teen devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, will release with Bethany House in 2018. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

What is Your Core Message?

The intentional writer

Can you connect all your writing projects to one central theme?

If you are like me, it may seem impossible to find a single theme for my writing projects, let alone my other interests. I puzzled for years over how to connect historical novels set in first century Rome with a blog about intentional living, church dramas, and various other writing and speaking topics. How could they all fit into one brand?

Then I was challenged by an instructor at a writing conference to identify my core message.

You have a core message

The instructor looked at each student in the classroom and told us we each had a single core message, which should be at the center of our personal brand. We looked baffled. One core message? Didn’t we all write multiple genres for various audiences?    

Then she explained what she meant by core message.

  • If you could only communicate one message to the world, what would it be?
  • What is your heart’s cry? What truth beats at the core of your being?
  • What life lesson have you learned that you find yourself sharing time and time again?
  • What truth can you not help but speak to those who need to hear it?
  • Your core truth is probably connected to wounds in your past and how you have overcome them.

Then she put us on the spot. One at a time she asked us to identify our core message. No warning. No time to ponder. Yet we each came up with an answer.

Our answers weren’t eloquent. They didn’t perfectly capture our message, but at a gut level they were pretty near the mark. Because, deep down, we do have a core concept or truth that we feel passionate about sharing with those around us.

How your core message connects the dots

Next the instructor asked another question. “How does some aspect of your message show up in the manuscript you are working on?”

Again, we were able to identify something in our WIPs that related to the core message we had identified only moments before. A theme, a character arc, an inner demon. Without being conscious of it, we were communicating our core messages through our stories.

Why?

Because who we are comes out in what we write: Our beliefs, our sense of humor, our passions. And our core message.

Since that workshop I have pondered my message and how it shows up in my various writing projects. Now that I have identified that central truth I can be more intentional about expressing it in my writing.

Knowing my core message is yet another step in refining the focus of my blog. It has given me a new understanding of my mystery series characters and their inner struggles. What I once did by gut instinct I can now do with intention and clarity.

I have experimented with variations of my message and composed taglines to capture it succinctly. I have rewritten my social media bios to better express it. I am working it into the synopsis of my series and dust jacket blurbs for my novels.

I am reveling in the clarity and direction my core message gives me. And because it comes from my deepest soul, it feels right. True. Authentic.

What is your core message? How is a thread of your core message woven into your writing?

Lisa E Betz

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi Uncategorized

Unlocking Science Fiction, the Secret You Need to Know

There’s something about a good sci-fi story that pulls me in and doesn’t let me go. In those moments, I’m completely satisfied as a passive observer, forgetting all the rules of how we should write active characters, strong plots, and keep the story moving.

I just want to be drawn in (passive), forget the rules (what?!) and let the story take me where it will.

What is it about truly great stories that draw me in this way? There’s a key answer to this question. As writers, if we realize what details in a story bring us to the point where we’re willing to become passive readers—simply for the sake of engaging in the story—it will make us better, active writers.

Here’s the key—find the science in the fiction.

Stories that focus on believability (however unbelievable the plot may be in real life) allow readers the safety net of realism. When realism is built into a story, the fiction aspects can stand on their own.

For instance, take the book Maze Runner.

The situation is something that would (hopefully) never happen in real life: put a bunch of kids in a walled garden, or glade as they call it, and watch them fend for themselves as they try to survive alongside creepy monsters.

There’s nothing relatable about that fiction. The fiction can’t stand on its own because we, as readers, have this thought in the back of our minds: It’s so far-fetched, that would never happen.

But throw some science into the story. Watch them figure out the details of the day and how to survive alongside other teenagers they would never be friends with in whatever used to be their day-to-day lives. The author draws on the psychology of humanity, of teens, and then uses that to drive the plot.

At its core, Maze Runner is a survival story.

What goes into survival? Science. Grab your psychology textbook from freshman year and in it you’ll find Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s a simple pyramid structure showing what we need as individuals, from a basic need for food and water, all the way up to self-actualization.

Maze Runner focuses on the second level—safety needs.

Adding relatable, scientifically proven aspects to a science-fiction book goes a long way in helping readers engage with the story.

We’ve all felt the desire to be safe.

So, when we turn the page and monsters come out of the maze, attacking our favorite characters, we don’t mentally stop to think, would they really want to be safe from monsters though?

No way! The author already established the credibility of his work, basing it in actual science. When the fictional aspects come along, we’re already drawn into the story.

The fiction stands on its own, because it’s rooted in science.

That’s what makes great science-fiction.

That’s believable.

And believable sells.

Sarah Rexford is a Marketing Content Writer, working with brands to grow their audience reach. She studied Strategic Communications at Cornerstone University and focused on writing during her time there, completing two full-length manuscripts while a full-time student. Currently she trains under best-selling author Jerry Jenkins in his Your Novel Blueprint course and is actively seeking publication for two books.

Instagram: @sarahjrexford
Twitter: @sarahjrexford
Web: itssarahrexford.com

Categories
Embrace the Wait

Survival Tips for the Waiting Part of Writing Tip #8 – Leave Your Comfort Zone

The life of an introvert is whelming—not over, not under—just whelming. And that’s how I like it. When my well-planned days lead to drama-free nights, I thrive.

I first met Charlotte at a writer’s retreat. Her boisterous, Southern charm tripped my extrovert alert system the instant the hey y’all shrilled through her bright pink lipstick. Of course, I heeded the internal warning, veered away from her, and steered myself into a sea of reserved writers more commonly found in that habitat.

No, I’m not a snob and definitely not an unfriendly person. But a dark season of life had brought me to that conference weary and wary. The only thing worse than wrestling with mom-guilt over the troubles of an adult child, is having to endure the giddiness of someone who that kind of grief has never touched. So my official conference plan for rejuvenation and self-preservation involved dodging Charlotte, attending classes, and enjoying alone time with God.

The strategy worked until the final morning of the retreat. Even though my burden remained heavy, I was able to sit at cafeteria breakfast table and reflect on God’s goodness; the deepest valleys so often provide the sweetest refuge in Him. With my mind fixed on things above, my internal alert system must have malfunctioned, because when I emerged from my thoughts there she stood, wearing a bright fuchsia blouse and dazzling smile. Before I could say a word, Charlotte introduced herself, sat down, and plunged into an animated description of her ministry and writing.

I listened with polite interest, hoping the firecracker of a woman wouldn’t spontaneously combust before my eyes. But when she launched into the description of her book, the first sentence captured my attention and held it hostage. And every word that followed pierced my heart. I had been so wrong in my assumption that Charlotte had been untouched by grief. She had. Her son had been wrongly accused of a heinous crime and sent to prison. But God had shown her how to pray—how to fight for him in a way that was powerful and effective. That’s where her joy had come from, and she was shouting it from the rooftops—and the breakfast table. I left the dining area changed by her story—somehow healed by it.  

Later that day, Charlotte offered to drive me to the airport. I was tempted to decline, but something in me needed more of the life flowing through her. I accepted … before I realized she intended to shove me and my two-ton suitcase into in her fiery red convertible for the drive. If a human could ever have an automobile twin, there would be no doubt Charlotte and the hot-rod came from the same womb. I took one look at the vehicle and asked a logical question, “Where will we put my luggage?”

Charlotte never answered the question, but her laughter echoed through the parking lot as she popped a small hatch located behind the two miniature seats. She then chucked my enormous suitcase into the tiny opening where it wedged tightly to all four sides and stood tall against the opened lid.

Warning sirens blared in my head, demanding that I ask Charlotte several other questions, “If we can’t close the trunk, what will keep my luggage from flying out while we drive? How will you be able to see through the back window? And what if it rains?”   

Charlotte provided jovial answers. “I drive with my trunk open all the time, nothing’s ever fallen out.” “My side-mirrors work just fine.” and “A little rain never hurt nobody.”

With all questions asked and answered, I did the only thing any polite, shell-shocked recluse could do; I folded myself into the bucket seat of Charlotte’s red sportster, and silently vowed to never again ridicule those poor Lifetime movie characters who make irrational decisions that led to their demise.

We pulled onto the winding country road with car top down and trunk lid open. My neatly arranged hair whipped in the wind and wrapped around my face for over an hour. And it rained. But while Charlotte talked a million miles a minute and drove almost as fast, another voice broke through. I never realized God could speak with a Southern accent; Charlotte’s every word provided real answers to my most agonized prayers, and as a bonus— her infectious joy lifted my heavy heart. I felt so refreshed I didn’t even care that I looked like a deranged vagrant when we arrived at the airport.

Charlotte is now one of my favorite people in the world. She’s a precious woman, full of life and God’s Spirit. Just the thought of her makes me happy. It scares me to think how much I would have missed had I chosen a safe route home. The common ground that bridged the gap between elusive introvert and excitable extrovert became my road to hope.

My tip for this month is to step out of your comfort zone. Allow God to use His people—all kinds—to help mold your faith and your writing career into what He has destined it to be.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2, Ephesians 4:16, John 17:21

Fun Fact: If you’d like to learn more about dear Charlotte and her amazing testimony check out her newly released book, Live In The Victory: God’s Victorious Battle Plans for Parents of Prodigals. Her picture is on the front and back cover of the book if you’d like to sneak a peek. You can find her book on Amazon here.

Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.

Categories
Screenwriting

What Scares Me

Recently my best friend contacted me about having a guys’ night out. He said he wanted to go see the new horror film It: Chapter 2. I agreed to go, even though I’m not into scary movies.

Occasionally, I’ll watch one just to see what all the hype is about. As I write this post It is the number one movie in America. Horror movies rank sixth in popularity over the last twenty-nine years raking in $11,596,900,357. Horror films are divided into three subcategories according to Robert McKee:

  • “The uncanny: the source for horror is astounding but subject to ‘rational’ explanation (i.e. beings from outer space.)
  • Supernatural: the source of horror is ‘irrational’ phenomenon like something from the spirit realm.
  • The super-uncanny: where the audience is guessing between the other two possibilities.”[i]

Knowing this, I decided to ask some of my other friends if they had seen it and what they thought. Almost all of them said the same thing; they hadn’t seen it yet because it didn’t look that scary to them. I guess we all have different types of fears.

Horror?

To be honest, I hadn’t planned on writing about this genre, but my friends’ comments got me thinking about my own fears. While movies are visual by nature and often use bloody or shocking scenes to scare us, I am more scared by what I don’t see.

It’s what I don’t know that scares me the most: what’s underneath the bed breathing hard? What’s that scratching sound in the closet late at night? What will happen if I don’t lock the doors at night? I’m sure each of us can think of our own “what if” scenario that strikes fear into our heart. I did a little research and below are a couple of common fears.

  1. Coulrophobia: an irrational fear of clowns.
  2. Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces.
  3. Claustrophobia: fear of closed spaces.
  4. Acrophobia: fear of heights.
  5. Aerophobia: fear of flying.

Regardless of your fears, Hollywood has been playing on them for over a century. In this ever-changing world, there’s always something new for people to be afraid of. It seems like an ever-growing list of options.

Options?

My father was notorious for being a practical joker. He was always coming up with new ways to scare or just embarrass me. Ironically, we can find humor in scaring people. Maybe that’s why it is so popular and everyone is looking for the best costume option.

But, to me is not what’s on the outside that scares me; it’s not knowing who or what is on the inside. Those are the kind of movies from my childhood that scared me the most. Below are some of my favorite classics while growing up

I have plans one day to write an inspirational horror film called The Monsters Within. Because I believe it’s what we don’t know that is the scariest. We never know what the future holds and that’s what scares me.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[i] [i] McKee R. (1997).  Story: Substance, Structure, Style, And The Principle of Screenwriting (Kindle edition) pgs 19-80.

Categories
Devotions for Writers

SEIZE the Day!

devotions

“Pharaoh…is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.”

Jeremiah 46:17 (NIV)

Do you know anyone who talks about what they will do “someday,” but never seem to get around to it? Maybe that someone is you? Just today, I realized I hadn’t worked on a priority project in two weeks.  The tyranny of the urgent monopolizes my days. Time slips away and other things fill the void where that priority would have been.

What is holding you back? Are you afraid the editor will change your words? Are you worried about rejection? Maybe like me, you’ve shelved works that have been rejected and given up on ideas you once championed?

Would you believe me if I told you rejection is good for writers? I never thought I would be thankful for rejection, but I can see ways it toughens me. I am developing a “thick writer’s skin” that enables me to write for the Lord, instead of worrying about whether or not people like my words. I knew I was making progress, when a recent rejection helped me reevaluate the project, instead of dumping it.

The Pharaoh Jeremiah referred to must have been quite boastful. He talked big, but the Lord proclaimed his bragging as fruitless. There are times that I talk about being a writer, but don’t actually do it. Daily activities consume my energies before I realize I haven’t produced the fruit of writing. It’s convicting to confess I squandered the chance to develop thoughts and words into sentences and paragraphs that could propel others into a better place with their own lives.

Be encouraged. Your words are needed in this world. No one can form ideas quite like you. You bring a unique perspective to events in your community people need to hear. Let two of my favorite verses for writers bolster you, too. Proverbs 25:11 says our words are beautiful. And, Psalm 22:25 prods my commitment to use my writing to encourage God’s people and to challenge growth.

Today, determine to miss no more opportunities. Take a risk, and send out your words!

Exercise:

Get out your Writer’s Market and make a list of publications that line up with one of your current pieces. Write a query letter. Polish it. Edit it. Then let go of it. Press “send” and stop worrying.

When you receive a rejection letter, revise your query and send it to the next editor on your list.

No more missed opportunities!

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. 

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for September Part 2

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

The Art of Listening For Writers with Cherrilynn Bisbano

We all know what it is like to talk to someone and based on their body language we know they aren’t listening at all. In this week’s episode Cherrilynn shares with how we can improve our skills as reflective listeners. She discusses what our eye contact, micro expressions, and body language says to the person speaking. 

Watch the September 10th replay

For more tips and resources, see this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

Bio

Cherrilynn Bisbano is the owner of The Write Proposal, the managing editor for Almost an Author, and is an experienced speaker and teacher. She has written articles for several magazines and was a contributor to many books like Chicken Soup for the Soul. She loves Christ, chocolate, and cats.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Updates with Tracy Crump

Tracy has contributed 22 stories and is a voice of experience when it comes to writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul. If you have ever thought of submitting a story to them, this is the episode for you. Tracy shares her Top Five Tips for entering a story to this popular publication, for example, you need a powerful conclusion with a lesson learned, a positive change, or a payoff. Maybe Chicken Soup for the Soul is the right place for your stories.        

Watch the September 17th replay.   

For more information and Tracy’s Top 5 Tips, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

Bio

Tracy Crump has written 22 stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul, and articles and devotions for a few other magazines like Focus on the Family, ParentLife, and Mature Living. Her course in Serious Writer Academy on writing for Chicken Soup is quite popular. Her most important job is being Grandma to the world’s most adorable grandchildren. You can contact Tracy at www.TracyCrump.com or www.WriteLifeWorkshops.com

Marketing Strategies with Bethany Jett

Does marketing trip you up? In this episode, Bethany is joined by surprise co-host Michelle Medlock Adams to lay out smooth ideas for marketing. They give tailored advice to Dory Oda, Josephine Massaro, and Amanda Ellis Flinn in this jam packed strategy session. Even though this strategy session was geared to these three women, there are numerous takeaways that are sure to get your marketing juices flowing.

Watch the September 24th replay

For more tips and resources, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link. 

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
Bestsellers

Award Winning Author Interview with Karen Whiting

award-winning author

Can you share a little about your recent book?

52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve provides easy to do faith connections as a family. Parents can choose what fits each week between the hands-on activities, chat prompts, contemporary story, and Bible passages. This is easier for busy families.

It also focuses on stories with children in families who served or helped by someone who serves. Such stories encourage a child to develop a servant heart and helps kids understand the lifestyle of people called to put the needs of others first.

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

I never wanted to write but God called me, gave me a vision, and I received a painting of the vision hours later. So, I committed to write until God tells me to stop. He also opened many doors and sent people my way to train me. He is still sending people to train me. Writing and marketing is a constant learning curve.

How long have you been writing?

25 years

And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?

I received articles contracts 3 months after I started writing and sold something every month for 100 months in a row (stopped counting then plus I was doing columns by then).

My first book proposal contract came 3 years after I started writing. I received contracts for my first books in one week (my birthday week).

Which of your books is your favorite?

My newest is always among my favorites. I also treasure my book The Gift of Bread because I grew up in the restaurant business and cooked with so many people in my family. I also treasure my nonfiction historic book that shares true stories of what happened on the home front during American war times. As a military wife and mom, I believe the stories needed to be told.

Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.

The Christian Retailing NF children’s book of the year. At that time a small group of judges chose the finalists and then retailers voted. I was up against major children’s authors (the top ones) so I was thrilled to be a finalist. I was super surprised when they called my book title as the winner. That’s The One Year My Princess Devotions. I designed the book to share how young girls could be a real princess of action of God’s kingdom. There’s a princess in action activity every day to follow Jesus and apply God’s word at their level.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I can take as long as the contract gives me. I have written 365 devotionals in four months.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I get up when I wake up and write all day unless I am traveling. I do use some of the time for marketing. I almost never work on a Sunday.

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

I never could use an outline or write one. I am a mathematician. I use spread sheets to lay out my books and it works super well.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

The people I have met and trips I’ve taken (speaking in China answered my lifelong dream to visit that country, so all expenses paid and really interacting with people there gave me great joy).

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

It’s always sad when a book does not sell well (and that is a relative term). It was hard writing a book as my husband died. The galleys arrived the day he started hospice care and they were the worst I ever received. A few months later the editor finally looked at the galleys, scrapped them, and hired a new freelance editor. That saved the book.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

I never counted (love never counts wrongs), so I have no clue. It took 11 years to get one book accepted and 22 for another.

Where do you get your ideas?

They just pop up or I get them in talking to an editor and hearing what they need. My mind is like a popcorn popper, so ideas are never a problem. I always trust God to give them to me.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I have a few I like: Jane Austin, Max Lucado, Carol Mayhill.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?

Learn to market. I was told to edit a lot and followed that advise. It helped. I read the market guide every day for the first year and learned to follow the guidelines because an editor said to do that. A fabulous piece of advice!

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

They think what they write is pure gold when it needs a lot of refining and sifting out. Many writers write to satisfy themselves and forget it’s all about the gift you create for the reader.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

  1. Watch for changes in magazines and send in the new needs.
  2. Network and learn what is needed and where.
  3. Spend more time on the proposal to showcase the audience and the marketing ideas.
  4. Start small and local and move outward.

Karen Whiting has a heart to grow tomorrow’s wholesome families today. She lets creativity flow into her writing to encourage women, families, and children.  She’s a Writing and Marketing Coach (www.karenwhiting.com), international speaker, former television host, and award-winning author of twenty-six books for women, children, military, and families. She’s also a mom of five (including two rocket scientists) and a grandmother. She writes to help families thrive. She has written more than seven hundred articles for more than sixty publications. Her awards include the Christian Retailing 2014 Best Award, children’s nonfiction (The One Year My Princess Devotions) and the Military Writer’s Society of America Gold Medal (Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front).