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
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Perfect Blend of History and Fantasy

Historical fantasy is a genre growing in popularity. Many famous historical figures have earned themselves a retelling of their story, with a fantastical twist to set the story apart from other historical fiction.

My Lady Jane is a fun retelling of the life of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days’ Queen who replaced King Edward VI in 1553. Although a tragic tale in reality, authors Ashton, Hand, and Meadows were able to create an interesting, magical tale to please a young adult audience. Readers otherwise unfamiliar with Jane Grey’s story have been captivated by the mystery of her very short reign as Queen of England, along with a the unique idea that the entire plot was influenced by shape-shifters.

Earlier this year, Nadine Brandes released her novel, Fawkes, which tells the true story of Guy Fawkes and his involvement in the Gun Powder Plot of 1605. In place of the tension between the Catholic and Protestant faiths, the main struggle within this narrative revolves around White magic and Color magic. Despite the fantastical change, the story is quite historically accurate.

Bookstores have seen an increase in sales of historical novels that have that fantasy spin. So, what is the best way for an author to go about writing a historical fantasy?

First decide which historical figure or event is right for your story. Not all historical events will lend themselves to a fantasy retelling. Evaluate the person you’ve chosen and pinpoint what event(s) in his/her life will make for the book’s climax, then work backwards to decide at what point in their life you will begin telling the story. Too much backstory can slow the story down, so be sure to drop the reader into the tale just as tension develops, sending the main character on the road towards the climax.

The next step is research. Regardless which time period you choose or which historical figure you pick to highlight, knowing the true story of the event is crucial. Understand not only the culture the person lived in, but also the build-up of social and political tensions, as well as any other influences that might make the story unique. Once you know the true history of the event or person, you can begin to piece together which elements can be stretched or changed for the fantasy addition.

Ask yourself what fantasy element fits nicely within their history? The fantasy element you choose should draw the reader in and keep them interested in the history of the story, as well. Keep as much of the history as accurate as possible, while being true to the new fantasy twist. This will impress the reader and keep them reading as they seek to learn the new fictional tale of this very real historical figure or event.

Don’t forget to have fun with your story! Regardless what historical figure you choose to write about, or which part of history they hail from, enjoy the fantasy world you create around the history of your story. A reader that chooses to pick up a fantasy retelling is likely looking for a new, unique twist to enjoy. So, focus on the character and the story they want to tell, and let the fantasy elements take your novel to a whole new level.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mama to three daughters and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter @lauralzimm and at her website Caffeinated Fiction.

Categories
Screenwriting

The End?

Recently a fellow aspiring screenwriter reached out to me on social media. She was having problems with figuring out the details of her story and asked for advice on how to develop her story ending.

Like me she is far removed from the security of Hollywood’s screenwriting community, in fact, she doesn’t even live in the United States. Our common bond inspired me to share an unusual plotting technique I learned myself from other screenwriters earlier this year.

Reverse Plotting

Reverse plotting may seem counterintuitive, but once you’ve tried it the benefits reap dividends. Even with my current revision of an older screenplay, it helped me.

  • Create new plot turns.
  • Create new characters.
  • Flush out existing characters.
  • Develop clear subplots.
  • Improving the flow of my narrative.
  • Enhance my take away.

If you’re struggling with any of these in your screenwriting, read this post carefully to give your story a more satisfying resolution in the end. I don’t understand how some movies ever got the green light with endings so bad. Here is a couple to give you an idea of bad resolutions.

  1. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull- 
  2. Savages-

Resolution?

In the writing process, the resolution is the final element in storytelling. Its primary function is to tie together the previous elements into a proper conclusion.

  1. Exposition- Setting, characters and timing.
  2. Rising action- crisis or conflict
  3. Climax- The height of her story that results in a change of character or protagonists biggest test.
  4. Falling action- Tying up loose ends or subplots
  5. Resolution-where the initial conflict is resolved and the protagonist achieves their ultimate goal.

In reverse plotting, we start with resolution and work backward. It’s a lot like drawing a B and leaving a blank space before A, now the writer must fill in the blanks with the proper steps to show where our protagonist has come from and their struggle to get where they want to be. Somewhere along the way clarify our protagonist’s purpose.

Obviously, a story’s resolution is important. Robert McKee explains, “All films need a resolution as a courtesy to the audience.”[i] As 2018 comes to an end many people already working on coming up with a New Year’s resolution for 2019. They will start the year knowing where they want to be at the end of the year and then spend the next 12 months trying to get there. They’re using a type of reverse plotting; starting next month they will decide what steps need to be taken to get them to where they want to be. Their resolution is more than just an answer it’s their next goal.

Next?

Movies with satisfying endings answer the questions we first develop at the beginning of the story. They also let us know if this is the end of our protagonist’s journey and possibly clues us into what’s next.

However, there are times when storytellers in films don’t want to let us know if there’s more to the story in a film’s resolution. These cliffhanger endings are common in sci-fi movies, superhero films, and other genres as well. A couple of good examples of this are.

  1. The Star Wars saga
  2. The Avengers Infinity War  

In these types of films, stories are so complex the conflict continues through a series of films before the final resolution comes to the end.

[i] Mckee, Story:Style, Structure, Substance. HarperCollins, 1997. E-book.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic 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.

Categories
My Writing Journey

I Never Meant to Become a Writer

Once upon a time I was a frazzled mom of toddlers paging through a parenting magazine in a brief moment of solitude.  I ran across an ad for a correspondence course on writing for children and decided it was just what I needed to keep the gray matter active in between repeat episodes of Wee Sing tapes and readings of Goodnight Moon.

I was not one of those people who had been writing stories since I was three. I never dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up. My favorite subjects were math and science, not English. I enrolled in the writing class for fun. That was all it was—or so I thought.

Working on the assignments I discovered that writing  touched something in my soul. I have always loved reading and making up stories in my head. Now I was seeing stories come to life on the page. By the time the class was over, I was hooked.

I dabbled in writing for the next fifteen years. A script here, a humor article there. I started a novel, but never got very far. Life kept getting in the way.

Fortunately I listened to my instructor’s advice and eventually found some critique partners that prodded me to write and dragged me off to a local writers’ group. I observed. I learned. I worked up the courage to be vulnerable and allow strangers to read my work.

But …

I considered writing to be no more than a hobby, and I did not consider myself to be a real, honest-to-goodness writer.

Eventually my youngest went off to college—which meant the seemingly unending stream of excuses for not getting around to writing had disappeared (along with a laptop, dorm-sized bedding, crates of clothes, and three guitars.)

Faced with this sudden shift in my reality, I decided it was time to get serious about my writing. I finished the manuscript I’d been puttering around with for years. Sent if off for professional feedback (yikes!), returned to the drawing board, and completely rewrote it. Since then I’ve completed a third and am working on a fourth.

Somewhere along the journey, I began calling myself a writer.

At first I felt like a pretender. Sure I was writing, but did that make me a writer? Doubt would creep in. Then I would hear the same encouraging message from the lips or keyboard of yet another writing professional:

If you write then you are a writer.

Even me, the math-nerd engineering major who never dreamed of writing.

Nowadays I am proud to call myself a writer. Because I have worked long and hard to hone my craft. Because I know how lonely and scary the road to becoming a serious writer can be. But mostly because I am surrounded by so many talented authors who are intentional about nurturing the love of writing in others. Like me.

I am a writer. Is it time you started calling yourself one, too?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Literary Women in Histor

Mildred Wirt Benson: Woman Writer Whodunit

I’ve decked the halls at the Ross Ranch with all manner of Christmas splendors, adorning trees and every random corner of the house for the holidays.

I have three Christmas trees, each dressed in a different theme: The Victorian, The Woodland, and The Vintage Childhood. I love them all but am especially partial to The Vintage Childhood because it reflects my personal memories of Christmas past in my 1960s youth. Vintage ornaments from the era drape the branches, while displayed underneath are some of the actual toys I received on long ago Christmas mornings. I enjoy them more today, decades later, than at the first.

One of the treasures I found each year under the tree during my elementary school days was a new Nancy Drew Mystery Story. My collection of titles still holds a place of honor on our library shelves. I knew I could count on Santa to have a Nancy Drew mystery waiting for me on Christmas morn. The cover and frontispiece prepared me for what to expect once I started reading. I was never disappointed.

Only inspired.

I credit Nancy Drew as my earliest writing mentor. Reading her mystery adventures became more than just the absorbing of a captivating story. It stirred the latent author within me. I wanted to be able to write a book just like Carolyn Keene.

But, if Nancy Drew’s life was full of mysteries, Carolyn Keene was a mystery in and of herself. I could learn nothing about her when I was young. Other authors might be featured in magazines with photographs and details of their personal lives. But not Carolyn Keene.

When I dug a little deeper on the subject through the years, I learned that Carolyn Keene was a pen name for an anonymous writer shrouded in mystery. In fact, she had been hidden from public view since the first Nancy Drew book was written in 1929. By the time I started reading them in the mid to late 1960s, dozens of her detective adventures had been published.

But not until a court case in 1980 regarding the publishers of the series, did Nancy Drew fans learn the secret behind the mystery of how these beloved children’s books came to be written by a journalist named Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson. After some 50 years, the woman behind the whodunits finally revealed herself to almost four generations of fans eager to meet her.

The Woman Whodunit

Born in 1905, Mildred earned an English degree in three years from the University of Iowa in 1925, and in 1927 earned a master’s degree in journalism. Seeking good pay for her writing, she answered an ad in the newspaper from the Stratemeyer Syndicate seeking freelance writers.

Edward Stratemeyer knew the book industry inside and out—especially the reading demographics of prospective book buyers. He zeroed in on engaging books for young people and created a host of characters and story worlds producing over 1300 titles in children’s fiction during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among them, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Dana Girls, Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift, and more, catapulted the Stratemeyer Syndicate to over 500 million in sales.

Alone, Stratemeyer could never have accomplished such a feat. But working within a syndicate model, he had the power to create a publishing behemoth. He sought out young, talented authors as ghostwriters and tooled them with the framework for each individual book series. Storylines, plot twists, characters, and settings were outlined and assigned to a freelance writer under a pen name. The writer’s contract required that they never reveal themselves as the author of the book for which they were paid a flat rate of $125 to $250 per book—about 3 months’ pay for a newspaper reporter of the time.

In 1929, Mildred was handed the outline for a new mystery series for girls featuring a spunky young gal named Nancy Drew. In her able hands, Nancy’s personality materialized, setting in stone the specifics of her adventurous sleuthing character and story world in 23 of the first 30 books in the series. Each became a best seller.

As a ghostwriter of the series, Mildred had no rights to her manuscripts or the famous Carolyn Keene pen name. When Stratemeyer died in 1930, his two daughters took control of the syndicate, continuing to work with Mildred on the Nancy Drew series through 1947. The books gave girls of the depression and WWII era a heroine unlike any other in their time.

Each generation since, the books have had an editorial uptick. For instance, the original 1930s-1950s Nancy Drew stories and illustrations capture that time period in fashion and setting. But the books I read in the 1960s—the same stories—possessed minor edits in the manuscript and illustrations that brought Nancy into that current time. Fast forward to the 1980s-1990s-2000s-plus—and Nancy morphed into a mirror image of the changing juvenile/youth landscape.

Unfortunately, the Nancy of 75+ years after her 1930 debut has not been well received and is analyzed to pieces by contemporary feminists and literary academia sweeping her into the maelstrom confusion of identity politics and sexualized imagery.

Tragic.

The original stories were successfully developed under the insightful pen of Mildred Wirt Benson and the editorial prowess of the Stratemeyer sisters, until their deaths in the early 1980s. The founding genius behind the girl detective gave generations of young girls a strong, confident, and resourceful role model to look up to.

In 2001, twenty years after her identity was revealed, Mildred Wirt Benson was awarded a Special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America because of her work on Nancy Drew and contribution to the mystery genre in children’s fiction.

Though Mildred remained true to her contract anonymity behind the pen name of Carolyn Keene, she never lacked for writing under her own name. For 58 years she wrote as a weekly columnist for the Toledo Blade working until just before her death at age 96 in 2002.

In reflecting upon the popularity of Nancy Drew, Mildred once remarked, “I’m glad that I had that much influence on people.”

Her flat rate pay on those original Nancy Drew mysteries may not have been the financial windfall it had the potential to be had she written under her own name and in control of full royalties. However, taking a good paying job for the time in trade for anonymity over so many years found its lasting reward in the knowledge that she created a character and compelling stories that inspired generations of young girls.

Including me. Reading Nancy Drew cemented within my heart a passion for the written word and storytelling as a life calling.

It’s Christmas again. Fifty years after reading my first Nancy Drew mystery, I pay homage to the influence Carolyn Keene—Mildred Wirt Benson—had in my young life with a copy or two of her books tucked under my Vintage Childhood Christmas tree. Upon reflection, I am challenged to consider the humility it took to be the writer of world-famous stories and not be able to take credit for it for decades. In fact, had a court case not required it, Carolyn Keene might still be an author cloaked in mystery.

As a writer, I’ve often had to pen words for the enrichment of another with little to no financial reward and never getting the satisfaction of my own credited byline. There is a place of humility necessary to do so—a challenge to my writer’s ego to live there. But, in the end, the important thing is not who gets credit for the words written, but that the words written credit the life of another with wisdom, beauty, and inspiration.

I’d like my words to have that much influence on people.

Journal Prompt: For 50 years, Mildred kept her identity secret as the writer behind the million-dollar sales of Nancy Drew books. How did humility play a part in Mildred’s writing career? Have you ever written or done something significant but had to defer the credit to someone else? How did you learn humility with contentment in such a situation, and subsequently, grow in depth as a writer?

Writer-speaker, Kathryn Ross, ignites a love of literature and learning through Pageant Wagon Publishing. She writes and publishes homeschool enrichment and Christian living books for home, church, and school. In addition, she shepherds writers through the steps book development and production. Her passion to equip women and families in developing a Family Literacy Lifestyle, produces readers and thinkers who can engage the world from a biblical worldview. She blogs and podcasts at TheWritersReverie.com and PageantWagonPublishing.com. Connect with Miss Kathy on Facebook.

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for November, 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!”

Seeking Endorsements with Cherrilynn Bisbano

In this episode, Cherrilynn discusses five strategies to help you find endorsers for your book. Making a list, creating the email, and follow up, are just a few of the strategies she shared today.

Watch the November 26th replay

If you want more information and the list of 5 strategies for choosing endorsers check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

Bio

Cherrilynn Bisbano is the founder of The Write Proposal book proposal services. As submissions reader and junior literary agent with Cyle Young, Cherrilynn learned the importance of a professional book proposal and many other aspects of the literary world. If you need help making your book proposal shine, visit Cherrilynn at www.thewriteproposal.com

Coming Up: Join Writers Chat next week as we talk with Dirk Swart, from South Africa, about time management.

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
Songwriting

How to Defeat the Dreaded, Highly Feared Monster We Call Writer’s Block

I hate to admit it, but writer’s block is just as prevalent in songwriting as it is in fiction writing. In fact, I find myself fighting this nasty demon even more in songwriting. Perhaps because in fiction writing, you can always jump around from scene to scene. But in songwriting, you only have so many words you can write. The premise and theme have to be precise. You’re allotted three and a half minutes, and you already know your repeating chorus is going to take up most of those seconds. That doesn’t give you a lot of time. So how do you deal with writer’s block when songwriting?

I wish I had a clear-cut answer. The truth is I’ve been suffering from writer’s block, myself. I used to write a couple of hundred songs a year. Over time it became a hundred songs a year. Then fifty. Then twenty-five. And once I reached that twenty-five mark, I knew I was in trouble from writer’s block.

If you’re struggling with writer’s block like me, here are five ideas to help you.

  1. Create an audible library of snippets whenever inspiration strikes. Praise God for smartphones where we can take notes audibly and record our melodies, thoughts, ideas, and verbiage without writing them down on physical paper. Whereas, I may only have twenty-five completed songs in a year, I have hundreds of song pieces with melodies, themes, strum patterns, choruses, verses, bridges, and any other piece of a song I can muster up, saved to my smartphone via some recording apps. When I’m messing around on my guitar or the piano and I’m feeling inspired to create, yet, I can’t think of anything new to write lyrically, I often go and listen to these old song notes of mine to rewrite what I started or to formulate new ideas from them. What I recorded may never turn into a song, but it can inspire ideas for another new song. But if I didn’t record those snippets of inspiration in the first place, I would be starting at ground zero when I have writer’s block.
  2. Create a story. Sometimes, the best way to write a song is to start by writing a short story. I would suggest finding a painting or a picture and create a fictional character who is in picture. Who is this character? Write a back story on this character so that you know this character inside and out. Why is this character in this setting? Give her a conflict. What does she need to overcome her conflict? What would give her victory? Her victory should be your chorus or bridge. Is there an enemy or antagonist? After you write a rough idea or short version of your story, you can pick and choose portions of it and work on creating lyrics to tell her narrative. Who is she? The waitress with tear-stained eyes and an apron too tight? What is your setting? An old, forgotten diner on Route 42? Why is she crying? Her kids have the flu and their daddy left too? You get the idea.
  3. Hum melodies. Sometimes you’ll get an incredible melody idea in your head. Don’t worry about getting all the words down right away. Hum the melodies and write around it. Since you are smart enough to record the hummed melody to your smartphone, you can always come back to it. I usually will do this and just start singing words that come to my head, instead of forcing words. Sometimes something will stick that feels and sounds incredible, and then I write the song around that one simple line. Sometimes I’ll re-record that melody with different word options.
  4. Say what you want. Is there something you feel strongly about that you have wanted to say for a long time? What passionate issue pulls at your heart? Abortion? Child Abuse? God’s Love? Healing? Write a small editorial based on your feelings—and then cut out pieces of the editorial to formulate pieces of a song. Look at the theme and create a chorus around that. For example, if I were to write a song on abortion, I would try to make it personal and come up with a character. Let’s name her Annie. What about her? Well, she was supposed to be born, but her mother aborted her. So what now? Let’s talk about things she’ll never experience—the feeling of her mother’s touch, staring into her mother’s eyes. Her first steps. Her first day of school. Her first crush. Going to prom. Getting married. Having her own child. But Annie won’t experience those things, because she went to heaven a little too early. Now, how can we formulate these ideas into a song?
  5. Go for a walk. This is my favorite thing to do. For me, personally, I prefer walking in the city, observing everyday people in their everyday elements. The city has a vibe and will speak to you. What is it saying? What’s the temperament of the city? Is it fast-paced, business heavy? Is it littered with homeless people? Is it busting with young entrepreneurs? Is it an old town with out-of-date stores? Is it a crime-ridden area like Gotham city? Look a little closer and people watch. Take a notebook and start writing down ideas about the people you see. Your ideas don’t have to be factual—you can make up backstories: the homeless man with one shoe who holds an MBA from Harvard, the young business man drinking at the bar afraid to go home and tell his wife he lost his job, the girl selling herself on the street corner for drugs, the street musician hustling for money to pay for his daughter’s operation, etc. You get the idea.

If all of these fail you and you find yourself with writer’s block, my final suggestion is to get plenty of rest and exercise. Creativity seems to come when the mind is well-rested and the body feeling strong. Best of luck on your songs! Have an idea or a question for this column? Please leave a comment!

 

Matthew Hawk Eldridge is a coffee loving, calico-cat hugging, Renaissance man. When he’s not passionately penning screenplays or stories rich in musical history, he’s writing songs on his guitar or working on a film as an actor, double, musician, or stand-in. He is a Creative Writing graduate student at Full Sail University.

Categories
Guest Posts

Watch Your Step

Hiking can quickly change from breathtaking scenery to a breathtaking fall. We have to watch our steps in order to get where we want to go.

Writers must also take the right steps to achieve our goals.

Failure to Focus

Careful walkers focus on our destination and the best path there. Wrong steps can turn ankles, break bones, or end in death.

Likewise, careful writers maintain focus. We decide what we want to say, how to say it, and stick to it. If we stray off topic, we stumble. That misstep may turn away editors, break our spirits, and end in our manuscript’s death.

Choose a plan. Work the plan.

Faulty Fit

A successful walk requires shoes that fit well. If we ignore the fit, we live with pain.

If writers expect success, we meet publication length requirements. Failure to follow guidelines ends in rejection.

Read the guidelines. Write to fit them.

Flawed Form

Serious walkers never choose dress shoes for hikes. We match our footwear to the demands of our destination.

Serious writers study publications. We verify what audiences expect and what editors accept.

Determine a publisher’s slant. Conform to it.

Flights of Fancy

A little experience can result in overly-confident walkers. We try fancy footwork and tackle challenges beyond our abilities. As a result, we fall flat on our face.

We writers tend to grow fancy with words as well. We use 10 words when four will do. We wax poetic when simplicity suffices. We overemphasize. We repeat. We tell rather than show. We seek cleverness rather than clarity.

Write what needs to be said. Then stop.

Fast and Frenzied

If we rush or multi-task as we put on our shoes, expect problems. Loose laces, slick soles, and other mistakes slip in unnoticed. Readiness takes time.

Before we submit a manuscript, edit several times. Read it aloud and edit again. Wait a couple of days, print, read aloud, and edit once more. Recently, when I cut those steps short, I overlooked a grammatical error that sets my teeth on edge. I have no doubt it does the same for editors.

Take the time to do it right. Otherwise, you’ll do it over.

Final Fix

Before dashing out the door, a cautious walker completes one last check. Clean, comfortable socks? Check. Appropriate shoes? Check. Shoes securely tied? Check.

Writers who want to get published give manuscripts one last perusal before hitting the submit button or sealing the envelope. That simple precaution caught my previously-mentioned grammatical snafu. I was the only one who saw my misstep — that time.

Make one last check. Collect more checks.

Fear of Failure

How many people plan a walking program but never get out the door?

How many writers never write? We read about writing, discuss writing, attend writers conferences, and seek guidance from published writers. Eventually, however, we must take that first step.

Ignore the fear and trembling. Go forth boldly and write!

Diana Derringer is an award-winning writer and author of Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary: 12 Dramas for Christmas, Easter, and More! Hundreds of her articles, devotions, dramas, planning guides, Bible studies, and poems appear in 40-plus publications, including The Upper Room, The Christian Communicator, Clubhouse, Kentucky Monthly, Seek, and Missions Mosaic, plus several anthologies. She also writes radio drama for Christ to the World Ministries. Visit her at dianaderringer.com or on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Categories
Novelists Unwind

Novelists Unwind welcomes Roseanna White and Curt Iles

Roseanna White writes amazing historical fiction with complex plots, unique characters–ie family of reformed grifters in this series–and well-crafted writing. But then, Roseanna is a self-proclaimed word nerd who enjoys musing about the etymology of words. She explores the history of “the word of the week” on her blog at Writing Roseanna.

Curt Iles is a master storyteller who writes “memorable stories of the history, culture, and people of Louisiana’s Pineywoods region.” Curt’s great-great-great grandfather came to this area, known as No Man’s Land, from Ireland.

As a child, Curt sat by the fire listening to the grown-ups reminisce, and as a teen he began writing these stories in a journal given to him by an uncle.

We chatted so long, I divided the interview into two episodes.

 

 

The next Novelists Unwind Giveaway will be announced on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at  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 executive boards of Serious Writer, Inc. and the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, 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
Blogging Basics

Quick & Easy Blog Posting For The Holidays

Do you have a posting strategy for the holidays?

I read a post from a fellow author stating she will be off line for the rest of the year. She has already scheduled out all her content for the next six weeks. My first thought: I’m impressed. I am not a planner. I post manually and normally do not schedule. But after reading my friends post, I thought, how hard can it be?

Work Your Plan

Do you post your blog bi-weekly, weekly or monthy? Depending on your posting schedule, this will determine how many blogs you need to create to schedule for the rest of 2018.

  1. Schedule a time to brainstorm topics you want to post. For this column, I have a list of topics to cover into 2019.
  2. Set aside time to create your blogs with the topics you selected. This may be a block of several hours, or you may choose to write a blog a day for several days.
  3. If you are crunched for time or having writers block, considered updating an old post by adding new content. Or review an old blog and consider writing a Part 2 on the same subject.

You can find more content creation ideas here.

Posting Software

Once you have created your blogs, schedule your post manually or use scheduling software. Here are a few to choose from:

Buffer: Free Account – 3 social accounts, 10 scheduled posts per profile, Twitter, FB, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram

Paid Account: Pro – $15/mo – 8 social accounts, 100 scheduled post per profile, Twitter, FB, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram

HootSuite: Free Account – 3 social profiles, 30 scheduled messages

Paid Account: $29/mo – 10 social profiles, Unlimited scheduling

Later – Free Account – 1 social profile per account, 30 Instagram posts, 50 Twitter Posts, 30 Facebook posts, 30 Pinterest posts.

Paid Account: Plus – $9/mo – 1 social profile per account, 100 Instagram posts, Unlimited Twitter Posts, 100 Facebook posts, 100 Pinterest posts.

Postcron: Free Account: None

Paid Account: $14.99/mo – 8 social media accounts (including FB, Twitter, Google+,Pinterest & LinkedIn) 2 Instagram Accounts, 100 pending posts

Whether you decide to post manually or use one of the above schedulers, have a plan to share your content over the holidays. Being consistent year around and continuing to build your blog content helps increase your visibility and helps with being discovered by search engines.

Do you post manually? What scheduling software do you use and like? What is your favorite feature? Comment below and share the goodness.

Evelyn Mann is a mother of a miracle and her story has been featured on WFLA Channel 8, Fox35 Orlando, Inspirational Radio and the Catholic News Agency. A special interview with her son on the Facebook Page, Special Books by Special Kids, has received 1.4M views. Along with giving Samuel lots of hugs and kisses, Evelyn enjoys hot tea, sushi and writing. Visit her at miraclemann.com.

Categories
Romancing Your Story

Does ‘Sweet’ Mean Boring?

The first reaction I get when I tell another romance writer that I write sweet love stories is often a blank stare, then a small grin and a murmured, “Hmm … is there a market for that?”

The short answer: Yes.

Because sweet doesn’t have to mean boring and flat. There can be plenty of sexual tension in a sweet story. The parameters of what’s acceptable, even in Christian fiction, has widened considerably in the last few years.

I recently read a book by a popular author that left the door wide open during the consummation scene. There was nothing graphic, but also no doubt what was happening. Another of my favorite historical authors took us up to the moment of consummation, slammed the door, then opened it again the next morning to show the reader that the night did not go as expected. (Not coincidentally, both of those books were from the same publisher.)

How do we put passion and tension on the page without graphic descriptions and naming body parts?

It’s all about the feelings. Both physical and emotional.

  • Tummy flutters: yes.
  • Tingling lips: yes.
  • Heightened awareness of the other: sure.
  • Blood rushing: depends on where. 😉
  • Longing for closeness: Yep.
  • Feeling safe or as if coming home: Absolutely!

Let’s dissect a kiss scene.

This is from my novella, BROOKE RUNS AWAY. It takes place near the end but is not the final scene. The plot centers on a reality dating show. We’re in Brooke’s point of view.

I cleared my throat. “You can visit me. I … I’d like that.”

“Really?” He reached for my hand, then pulled me to stand next to him.

His gaze drifted to my lips and my stomach fluttered. (A SMALL PHYSICAL RESPONSE)

We’d laughed. We’d bowled. We’d shared meals and dates.

We’d never kissed. (TAKING A MOMENT TO LET THE TENSION BUILD)

He bent his head and I lifted my mouth to meet his.

Our kiss was soft at first, tentative. (TWO SMALL, LIGHT ADJECTIVES) Then he deepened the contact, pulled me closer, as if after one taste, he had to have more. (A SIMILE TO COMPARE THE KISS TO SOMETHING KNOWN)

I threaded my arms around his neck and met his want with my own. (NOT GRAPHIC, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT SHE MEANS)

After a long moment, we pulled back. He rested his forehead on mine. “Wow.” (A SHORT RESPITE)

I had no breath left, so I smiled. (ANOTHER SMALL PHYSICAL RESPONSE)

His gaze darkened (AGAIN, NOT GRAPHIC, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE’S THINKING) and he let go. “Wait here.” He strode back to the house. (WAIT … WHAT?? A COMPLICATION)

I watched Austin’s back disappear through the kitchen door. Was it something I said?

For the first time since we stepped outside, I noticed the camera and its steady red light.

No.

Our conversation, our questions, our kiss … they were private. (UH OH)

My breath caught in my throat and my pulse pounded, urging me to run, run, run. (ANOTHER, STRONGER PHYSICAL RESPONSE) 

Try this exercise on your own.

Dissect some kiss scenes from your favorite books. Figure out what emotions, feelings, and sensations the author conveyed. Then go over your own scenes. What can you add? What can you delete? How can you keep tension on the page?

Because while sweet romance may not “pulse and throb,” it’s never boring.

Carrie Padgett lives in Central California, close to Yosemite, but far from Hollywood, the beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge. She believes in faith, families, fun, and happily ever after. She writes contemporary fiction with romance. Carrie and her Stud Muffin live in Central California with their cat and dog and within driving distance of their six grandchildren.

You can find her online at:

Twitter: CarriePadgett
Instagram: carpadwriter
Facebook: WriterCarriePadgett
Amazon Author Page: Carrie Padgett

Categories
The Picky Pen

Five Ways to Edit Dialogue

When thinking about the dialogue in our story, whether fiction or nonfiction, we must consider perspective. With each story, there should be one main character whose point of view by which the reader experiences the story. Dialogue is one of the storytelling tools that lets you reveal character, advance the plot, establish the setting, and deliver the theme, all at the same time. That means that your dialogue needs to be tight and very easy to read. Well written dialogue ensures that your characters’ conversations will move right along and enhance each of your characters, as well as the overall story message.

I’d like to share several ways you can self-edit your dialogue to make sure it is truly impactful for your readers.

How to edit dialogue

1.  The first way to self-edit your dialogue is to chop down wooden dialogue.

In real life, people stammer and repeat themselves when conversing, but the characters in your manuscript are supposed to sound natural and spontaneous. Wooden dialogue puts a wall between your characters and your readers and actually tells your readers what the characters are doing. Here is an example.

“Joy, why are you raising that hammer above your head?”

“Because I want to hang up this picture.”

This type of dialogue does two things. It tells the reader what the character is doing, and it is stilted conversation that gives narrative details. Because you want your readers to engage in your characters’ lives, you must chop down wooden dialogue so it is smooth instead of stiff or rehearsed. Let’s revise that bit of dialogue to bring out the characters’ personalities.

“Hey, that looks like a hard position to be in, let me help you.”

“Oh, thanks. I thought I was going to fall over.”

Doesn’t that sound a little more interesting? Good dialogue will engage your readers and show your characters’ personalities.

2. The second way to self-edit your dialogue is to get rid of insignificant dialogue.

In real life, people often exchange niceties, such as inquiring how someone is, or discussing the weather. Small talk is a way to cover up nervousness or before discussing more important or sensitive topics. But in our manuscripts, insignificant dialogue kills the dramatic purpose our characters have for each scene. If the purpose of your scene is to show the nervousness of two couples meeting for the first time, then perhaps insignificant dialogue might work, but don’t let it go on and on. The more significant you make your dialogue the more of an impact it will have on your readers. And for the most part, your dialogue needs to reveal the character’s goal and reason for having that particular conversation.

3 . The third way to self-edit your dialogue is to cut out repetitive dialogue.

Have you ever heard two people tell you the same story at the same time? This is what repetitive dialogue tends to do in your manuscript. Then the story gets very monotonous. It’s a good idea to read your dialogue sections out loud and look for repeated words and ideas that stand out to you. Let me give you an example of repetitive dialogue.

“He was elected unanimously. Everybody voted for him.”

This is the same thing twice, doesn’t it? To make this dialogue simpler, choose the strongest piece of dialogue that best conveys the scene’s purpose and the character’s goal in light of the overall message of the manuscript.

4 . The fourth way to self-edit your dialogue is to clothe the naked dialogue.

Readers want dialogue that discusses opinion, involves conflict, and keeps them turning the page. And often, dialogue is unimpressive. To enhance the dialogue so that it is impressive, we can do several things to our dialogue to enhance the reading experience and provide subtext.

Use descriptive tags. A tag helps the reader keep track of who is talking and reveals the characters manner of speaking when the words alone don’t imply it. For instance, “I’m not hungry,” Jerry moaned. what does this tell you about Jerry? Perhaps he is tired or sad. There are so many elements of subtext that we can read into just by the descriptive tag moaned.

Use speaker actions when they contradict or reinforce the spoken words, or when they help the reader picture the scene more easily. For instance, “I’m not hungry,” Jerry moaned, laying his head down on the table. Now how does Jerry feel? We know that by this action, he is tired, therefore, he is not hungry.

5.  The fifth way to self-edit your dialogue is by trimming overdressed dialogue.

Have you ever met someone who is cold-blooded, especially during the summer time and every time you see them they’re always wearing long sleeves? I don’t know about you but sometimes that makes me feel even hotter because that person is overdressed. This can also happen to our dialogue, where we use too much information in our dialogue. There are several ways that dialogue tends to be overdressed.

The use of speaker tags. Speaker tags describe the characters voice, but since it tends to chop up the dialogue, speaker tags should be used as little as possible. The only time it makes sense to use a speaker tag is when the reader might be confused which character is talking. Here is a poor example of overdressed dialogue:

“I’m going to the par-ty,” Isabella said happily, twirling.

“If you don’t stop twirling, you’re going to break something,” Robert said in a warning tone as he folded his arms.

Many times the speaker tags can repeat the tone within the dialogue therefore creating the problem of repetitive dialogue. And as we have already discussed, we can lace our dialogue best with meaningful actions, thoughts, and impressions. There are several ways that we can trim our dialogue.

The use of adverbs. Adverbs slow the reading down and does not engage your reader in the scene or conversation. Here is an example.

“I don’t want to get up at five!” she yelled angrily.

This dialogue reads boring, even though the content is interesting. If we removed the adverb, replacing with character action, we might have a different impression.

She dropped her book bag. “I don’t want to get up at five,” she yelled.

By replacing the adverbs with character action, your readers will get a sense of what the characters want, understand their personality, and be further engaged in the scene because the character actions match the dialogue.

Dialogue is a useful tool and a very important piece of effective storytelling. The time you invest in good self-editing, making sure that your dialogue is effective and important to your character’s motives and goals for the story, your readers will enjoy the richness of each scene that you create.

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

What’s your favorite part about writing dialogue?

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
Child's Craft

What IS a Christmas Story?

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Yay! It really is my favorite holiday. It’s all about gratitude, family, friends, food and for some people, football.

Some 20 years ago it meant that Christmas was lurking in the shadows ready to pounce on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

But that trend long ago melted away to Christmas making itself known more like the day after Halloween! Marketing.

I’ve been wracking my creative brain for several years for a great Christmas picture book idea. And every November I read every Christmas picture book I can get my hands on. I love them – well, most of them.

Lately my brain has been wrestling with the question of what really makes a story a Christmas story.

If I look at the shelves in B & N, Hallmark, Wal-mart, Target etc. I would conclude that any book that mentions a Christmas tree, snow, gifts, stars, angels, Santa, toys, polar bears, teddy bears, snowmen  . . . is classified for marketing purposes as a Christmas book.

In the adult book world it seems everyone writes a romance story that is set at Christmas time and gets it on the “Christmas book” list. Again, marketing.

But my question goes a little deeper. What ingredients go into a real Christmas story?

  • Definitely the retellings of Christ’s birth qualify as Christmas stories.
  • Stories centered around a Christmas tree, ornaments, gifts qualify.
  • Surely stories about Christmas family traditions and celebrations fall under “Christmas.”
  • How about stories around the theme of selfless acts and giving in December?
  • What about stories centered around angelic visitations or miracles that happen during the Christmas season?
  • I think of stories about Santa Claus, elves and reindeer. Are these important elements in creating a Christmas story?
  • And, of course, there are hundreds of stories about snow people.

Should Christmas stories be about selfless giving? About love? About joy? These are all part of what we call “the Christmas spirit,” aren’t they?

I think what I’m really wondering is does simply setting a story (for children or adults) during the Christmas season really make it a Christmas story?

Or should it have more than that? Should it reflect a deeper truth that is often associated with the Christmas season—even if it’s about snow people or reindeer?

What do YOU think?

Jean Hall lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary. Her premier picture book series Four Seasons was recently signed by Little Lamb Books. Jean is a member of the SCBWI, Word Weavers International, and the Kentucky Christian Writers. Visit Jean at www.jeanmatthewhall.com, on Facebook at Jean Matthew Hall, and on Twitter as @Jean_Hall.

Categories
History in the Making

Fun and Games

History in the making

Board games − at some time in our lives, most of us have awakened on Christmas morning to find the newest or most popular board game festively wrapped and sitting under the brightly ornamented tree. What smiles those games brought to us then, and what smiles they might bring now, if we were to add a splash of fun and games to our stories.

Choosing a game to embellish our contemporary stories would be easy−just tune in to the explosion of Christmas advertising in autumn, do an internet search for popular games, or venture out to a brick and mortar to eyeball the offerings. But what about stories in a historical setting?

Some historical board games

The game of Checkers has been around forever−okay, maybe not forever, but Checkers as we know it, has been around since 1400 B.C.. Bingo, Backgammon, Parcheesi and Chess, or versions thereof, date back centuries.

However, the 19th century brought about an increase in the design and distribution of board games. It is opined that the boost in interest and subsequent appearance of new board games rose as people found they had more leisure time.

Though some games were likely just for fun, others pointed toward social issues of the day or served as educational tools. Depending on the shape of our historical work, including one of these games might spice up dialog or even reveal qualities in our characters:

  • The Checkered Game of Life (c. 1860), created by Milton Bradley, exposed the challenges people face on the road to success. A derivative of this game, known to most of us as The Game of Life, is still on store shelves.
  • The Landlord Game (c. 1904), was created by Elizabeth Magie. A supporter of a philosophy known as Georgism, she developed the game to help explain and promote the concept that property owners (landlords) become rich and renters do not. The game was not only played in households, but used as a teaching tool at the university level. A deeper look into its history reveals a dispute over ownership of the game. This was resolved circa 1935 by Parker Brothers. By that time the game was known as− surprise!−Monopoly.
  • Suffragetto (c. 1908), of British origin, addressed the social and political issues faced by women in that time period. The game pitted cops against suffragettes. Cops tried to protect the House of Commons from entry by suffragettes while at the same time attempting to breach Albert Hall (where the suffragettes held their meetings). Meanwhile, suffragettes attempted to protect Albert Hall from penetration by cops while they sought to gain access to the House of Commons.

Games from other eras

A few other games that might appear beneath the Christmas tree (or any day) in our historical fiction, include Snakes and Ladders aka Chutes and Ladders (c. 1870),  Sorry (c. 1934),  Clue (c. 1948), Candy Land (c. 1949), and Risk (c. 1957). These games have survived decades and can still be found on today’s market.

Should we be inclined to conduct additional research on the subject of board games, the search words “history of board games” would likely glean sufficient fodder. Also searches on Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers and Hasbro, publishers of games in the 19th and 20th centuries, would prove enlightening.

If, however, we were to choose to invest precious time in other aspects of research, in most time periods it would be safe to wrap up a game of Checkers and plop it under the Christmas tree, or set the board between two characters in a shady spot on a hot summer day.

No matter the season or occasion, coloring our work with a bit of Fun and Games can add another aspect of interest for our readers.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

Categories
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Suspenseful Settings

mystery suspense thriller

Authors begin a new story by creating and building their characters—the hero, heroine, and villain, but shouldn’t we also consider the setting as a character? Furthermore, can the author use it to create suspense? How? Here’s what I’ve learned recently on this subject.

Setting is where your story resides. Could be a town, city, castle, beach, office, etc., and should be looked at in the same way as we do characters by using the senses and physical traits. We want to draw our readers in by transporting them to another world. The character of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining created suspense and haunted the reader. Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings did the same. We want to learn more about the surroundings as it keeps us on the edge of our seats, turning the pages.

What can we use to formulate suspense in our settings?

Five senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The creaking of the stairs in a haunted mansion or the howling wind echoing in the corridor gives the reader goose bumps. How about the taste of coffee in our character’s favorite café or the smell of mildew in an old estate? The touch of a sharp knife as the killer holds it against his victim’s throat or the character catching a glimpse of the eerie castle blanketed in fog. The senses are powerful and ushers the reader into the story, capturing their attention.

Nature – Does the snow sparkle in the moonlight of the quaint small town or the fireflies flicker on a warm summer night in the campground? A slithering snake or an owl hooting in the middle of the night can create suspense in our settings.

Weather – It can form tension, but don’t overdo it. Picture how a stormy night in an eerie town could add angst to your character. Also, the weather can help solve the crime. Were there footprints in the mud outside the castle’s window or a trail in the snow leading away from it?

Parts of speech – Similes and metaphors are a great way to help describe your locale and enhance the suspense, but use them sparingly.

Powerful words – Pick the right words when describing the setting. Use strong verbs and nouns. The rain pelted or the trees swayed.

In the following scene, I used sensory plus a simile to produce tension and suspense:

The wrought iron gate creaked open, revealing the brick mansion in the distance. Ominous twin turrets towered at opposite ends while cypress trees lined the lane like sentinels protecting the property from outside forces.

Setting is a powerful character that can be used to create suspense and establish the mood the writer is trying to portray. Choosing the right one is the key and we must go beyond the obvious to describe it. When we do our settings will come alive and stay with the reader long after the story is finished.

Darlene L. Turner writes romantic suspense and won the 2017 Genesis award in the Romantic suspense category and was a 2018 finalist. She was a finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense contest and won in 2016 (Inspirational Unpublished). She’s represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Visit Darlene at darlenelturner.com where she believes there’s suspense beyond borders.

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

Gratitude

The life of a writer isn’t for the faint-hearted, is it? Words do not always order themselves on the page in the inspiring pose you had intended to place them. Editors not only suggest you kill your darlings, but perhaps maim a few other precious pumpkins while you’re at it. Readers view things differently than you expected they would. Agents or publishers look for stories other than what you have written. This is the life we’ve chosen, and it is not always pretty.

The good news is, here we are in November, and it is the perfect time of year to reflect on all that we are thankful for. If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that the more you fill your heart and mind with what is good, the better equipped you are to navigate the less-than-good (or the downright ugly).

Here is my gratitude list for this year. I’m thankful for:

Electricity. It’s not just about keeping the ol’ Dell laptop buzzing. If I am on a deadline, I need the coffeemaker going. Electricity is my friend. Plus, can I tell you how many times an electric crockpot has saved dinner when I’ve had to hunker down over a draft? That number is higher than I thought possible.

Stolen moments. In the face of work changes and illnesses, I have learned how to claim even the tiniest blocks of time to write. Day by day, week by week, these little chunks add up to a completed manuscript, freelance work, and an occasional blog post.

Community. It’s odd for me to write this because I am an introvert through-and-through. In spite of that (or maybe because of it?) I know that I need writer people in my life. I have been fortunate to meet people who have cheered and encouraged me throughout this journey. As important as encouragement is, it is also healthy to have trusted people who will tell you the truth in a way that helps you hear it.

Words and the children who love them. This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but for me it is essential. Without words to build worlds and tell stories, we writers have nothing. We cannot take for granted that our world needs children who read, and parents and grandparents who encourage them. I am exceedingly grateful that words exist, and that there are children and adults who love to read them.

If you have read this far, I am thankful for you too! Thank you for letting me be part of your writing journey today. Since you’re here, what are you thankful for? Please take a moment and write your list in the comment section below. I would love to read it!

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 November, 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!”

Book Chat: Getting Into Character with Johnnie Alexander and Melissa Stroh

In this episode, Johnnie and Melissa lead an open mic discussion based on the book, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors by Brandilyn Collins. If you want characters your readers get attached to, then this fiction help book is for you.

Watch the October 30th replay

If you want more information about this great book as well as other valuable resources, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

 

Book Proposals: Mastering the Comparative Section with Cherrilynn Bisbano and Bethany Morehead

In this episode, Cherrilynn and Bethany share their expertise in presenting the comparative part of a proposal. They share examples from different publishing houses of how to make your proposal rise above the others in a very competitive market.

Watch the November 6th replay

To learn more on mastering the comparative section of book proposals, plus some great resources, take a look at this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

Meet our guests

Cherrilynn Bisbano is the founder of The Write Proposal book proposal services. As submissions reader and junior literary agent with Cyle Young, Cherrilynn learned the importance of a professional book proposal and many other aspects of the literary world. If you need help making your book proposal shine, visit Cherrilynn at www.thewriteproposal.com

Bethany Morehead is a Jr. Agent at Hartline Literary Agency and Associate Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite. She keeps her own personal blog focusing on ministry, being a wife, and relationships. She is acquiring in the genres of Children’s Board and Picture Books, Romantic Fiction, and Speculative Fiction. You can visit Bethany at bethany@welcometocyle.com or www.bethanymorehead.com.

Open Mic: NaNoWriMo & More

In this open mic issue of Writers Chat we discuss conferences, Nation Novel Writing Month, affectionately called NaNoWriMo, and fun family traditions for Thanksgiving.

Watch the November 12th replay

To be encouraged in your writing and get ideas for new holiday traditions, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

 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
The Poet's Pen

Giving Thanks

There are many ways to show gratitude and writing a Thanksgiving poem is the way many have expressed themselves over the years.

“The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day”  written by Lydia Maria Child in 1844, is one of the most well-known poems of thanksgiving. (Although, you might recognize it as the song “Over the River and Through the Wood,” published in 1897.)

The poem describes a sleigh-ride through the snow. It begins with, “Over the river, and through the wood to grandfather’s house we go”.

Other well-known Thanksgiving poems include: “The Pumpkin” by John Greenleaf Whittier (1850); “No. 814” by Emily Dickinson; “Fire Dreams” by Carl Sandburg; and “Thanksgiving Time” by Langston Hughes.

The Bible also has thanksgiving verses, many of them poems. The books of poetry are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
This year as you prepare for Thanksgiving why don’t you try your hand at writing a Thanksgiving poem.

Give Thanks in Everything
by Darlo Gemeinhardt

You see dirty dishes in the sink,

But I see the wonderful meal we had.

You see dog hair on the couch and floor,

But I see pets offering unconditional love.

You see piles of dirty clothes to wash,

But I see we have clothes to wear.

You see an old crippled body,

But I see someone who has had a long life.

You see kids who need a bath,

But I see the future.

You see the overall messiness and confusion,

But I see family.

You see the need to hurry away,

But I see the need to give thanks.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the dog pen.com

Categories
Publishing Pulse

Do You “Own” Your ISBN? Do You Really Want To?

I recently read some advice to self-published authors, to the effect that Lulu offers their clients a “free” ISBN—but it comes with a catch. The “free” ISBN means Lulu imprints their name on your book. I suppose the writer was bothered that Lulu was getting free advertising on their clients’ books, but I’m not entirely sure. (The advice was in the middle of an online self-publishing discussion, so you had to be there, I guess.)

The advice was good (a more succinct piece of advice is to stay away from Lulu altogether), but it served another function for me. It pointed out how much misunderstanding there is about the ISBN system among authors.

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a system in the bookselling industry used to identify a specific book (a specific product, really;  every edition of a book—hardcover, paperback, ebook, and so on—has a different ISBN). It’s the number built into the barcode on the back of a printed book. The cashier scans the barcode, the cash register looks up that specific book in its database, and the correct price is added to your bill. Everybody understands how that part of the system works.

What most people, including authors, don’t seem to understand is that the ISBN also identifies the publisher/publishing house—the person or company through which a distributor or retailer can obtain the book. The ISBN system in the US is managed by a company called Bowker. Publishers pay a fee to Bowker to have ISBNs assigned to that publishing house.

Bowker is the ONLY company in the US authorized to assign ISBNs, and they ONLY assign ISBNs to publishers/publishing houses. A publisher/publishing house cannot re-assign their ISBNs. So when a company other than Bowker tells you they will give you a “free” ISBN, or that you can “buy” an ISBN from them, they are not being accurate. What they are really saying is, they are going to publish your book through their publishing house. Distributors that look up your book with an ISBN will be told that the book is available through a specific publisher, because that ISBN is assigned to that publisher.

I’ve heard people try to connect the ISBN to copyright, by asking questions like, “This company put their ISBN on my book; have they stolen my copyright?” No. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, all an ISBN does is identify a specific edition of a book, and the publishing house that produced it. The copyright has nothing to do with it.

If you self-publish a book, and pay Bowker to assign an ISBN to you, you are effectively setting up your own publishing house. A publishing house is, by definition, an entity with one or more ISBNs assigned to it—nothing more or less.

Well, let me qualify that. A publishing house is, of course, an entity that publishes books, but one can assume that the books are published so that they can be sold. And to sell a  book in today’s market it needs an ISBN — a number which identifies what book it is and what entity has published it.

A book cannot be distributed and sold commercially without an ISBN, and ISBNs are assigned only to publishing houses.

Do you want to deal with distributors  and retailers about details of your book’s distribution and sale? If so, then pay Bowker a fee to assign you an ISBN, and become a publishing house. If not, then work with an established publishing house, whether it be traditional or subsidy (“self-publisher”), and let them worry over the details. Some of the issues that can arise are complicated and difficult—and dealing with those problems is a rather high price to pay just so you can say you “own” your ISBN!

David Fesseden has degrees in journalism and theology, and over 30 years of experience in writing and editing. He has served in editorial management positions for Christian book publishers and was regional editor for the largest Protestant weekly newspaper in the country.

Dave has published seven books, written hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, and edited numerous books. He is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences. Two of his books, Writing the Christian Nonfiction Book: Concept to Contract and A Christian Writer’s Guide to the Book Proposal, are based on his experience in Christian publishing. The Case of the Exploding Speakeasy, Dave’s first novel, reflects his love for history and for the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan-Doyle.

Dave and his wife, Jacque, live in south-central Pennsylvania and have two adult sons.

Website: davefessenden.com
Literary Agent, WordWise Media Services
Publisher and Proprietor, Honeycomb House Publishing LLC

Categories
The Intentional Writer

Are You Taking Productive Breaks?

The intentional writer

It may seem counterintuitive, but we can actually improve our productivity by taking breaks. God invented the concept of rest right back in Genesis chapter one, and we haven’t outgrown our need for it. We do not operate at peak efficiency hour after hour. We do better when we take periodic breaks.

All breaks are not created equal, however.

Some breaks restore our energy and boost creativity. Others simply waste time.

To make your breaks worthwhile, start with the right mindset

Don’t give in to guilt. Ignore those voices that whisper you are lazy or weak if you stop before the job is finished. When you take breaks with intention and intelligence, you are being smart and efficient. Remind yourself of that as often as you need to.

Be honest with yourself and your limitations. You might not be able to sit and concentrate as long as other writers. That’s OK. Find a balance between work and rest that makes sense for you.

Here are some tips for taking productive breaks.

  • Be in control of when you take them. Don’t let distractions like a Facebook notification drag you away from your work at less-than-ideal moments. Find a logical stopping place. Even if you set a timer, finish the sentence or the thought before you quit.
  • Take them regularly. Many of us are in the habit of sitting at the computer for hours at a time, hunched over our keyboards, wrestling with uncooperative prose. Studies say sitting for long periods isn’t good for us. Neither is forgetting to drink enough water. Develop a habit of taking a short break every two hours or so.
  • Be intentional about unplugging. Writers know the benefits of setting a piece of writing aside for a few days, because it allows us to look at it with new eyes. A similar truth applies to breaks. Resist the temptation to keep working in your head while you stretch or refill your water bottle. Give your brain a break too. For best results, get away from your desk completely.
  • Know what restores. The best breaks restore you mentally, emotionally, and physically.
    • Get your body moving. (Do office yoga, take a ten-minute walk…)
    • If possible, go outside. Nature has very effective restorative powers.
    • Connect with other humans. (But not someone who will suck you into a half-hour chat.)
    • Find solitude. If you work in a busy environment or interact with people all day, the best antidote may be a few minutes of solitude and silence.
  • Avoid the gripe zone. Griping about work might vent a little steam but it isn’t going to boost your motivation or enhance productivity. Avoid people or situations that tempt you to waste your break time complaining.
  • Avoid mindless screen time. Surfing social media will not restore your energy as effectively as moving your body and focusing your brain on something else.
  • Keep them short. Aim for ten to fifteen minutes and then get right back to work. No dilly dallying.

And, finally…

  • Stay focused between breaks. Modern society has become addicted to distractions. Learn to resist the siren call of email notifications or incoming text messages. Be in control of when you check devices rather than letting the devices control you.

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about  intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Inspiration From the Renaissance

Most authors will hit a dry spell at some point in their career. Whether they consider it “writers block” or just a season of life, inspiration runs short. Finding ways to get those creative juices flowing once more is a must for any writer.

Inspiration can come from anywhere around us. A recent trip to my local Renaissance Faire reminded me that we, as writers, sometimes need to look beyond the norm to find that extra boost of creativity. Here are a few ideas gleaned from my trip to the past.

Writing inspiration from a Renaissance Faire

Eat a turkey leg. For some, a faire of this magnitude is a great opportunity to dress up in costumes, fake an accent, eat unfamiliar foods, and embark in the make-believe. This same concept can be applied when searching for that extra spark needed to get into a character’s head or discover the perfect setting for your book. Having trouble finding what motivates your character that loves archery? Then sign up for archery lessons! Not sure exactly how to describe that ethnic food your character eats in chapter ten? Visit a restaurant to get the full experience. It’s easy to read what an activity or place is like from another person’s point of view on their personal blog, but you might find a different experience when you try it out for yourself.

Get immersed in a Shakespeare production. Ever notice you have lots of sci-fi ideas right after watching a movie or reading a book within that genre? Have you ever read multiple books in a row, with very similar premises, only to suddenly have the desire to write a companion novel within that same world? We often get inspired by the things with which we surround ourselves. If you’re writing a fantasy western novel, then watch as many movies and read as many books within that genre as you can. Your inspiration will get a boost and you’ll be ready to get writing in no time!

Buy a souvenir. Sometimes, using an item that reflects the atmosphere within my story, helps direct my thoughts where they should be. If writing a historical fantasy, try using a calligraphy pen to capture your thoughts. If it’s a futuristic space opera that holds your interest, invest in glow-in-the-dark decals of the stars, or photographs of space to decorate your writing desk. Anything physical you can use to bring back a spark of inspiration to your story can help.

God created us to be creative beings. There may be times when our inspiration seems lacking or even non-existent, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost our creativity. Find ways to jump-start the flow of those creative juices and get back to the heart of your story. Sometimes finding the right catalyst for your imagination means thinking outside the box.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mama to three daughters and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter @lauralzimm and at her website Caffeinated Fiction.

Categories
Time Management

Get Ready, Get Set, Go! It’s NaNoWriMo!

As most of us know, this month (November) is known to writers as “NaNoWriMo” or “National Novel Writing Month.” I’m actually giving a NaNoWriMo workshop at my local library on Nov. 6 so I thought I’d tie it into my time management blog here and share on the subject since the two are integrally related – and help you (whether or not you participate in NaNoWriMo, or would just like to start, finish or publish your next book as soon as possible) focus on churning out some pages and getting them published!

First a Little History

NaNoWriMo is a creative writing project and was started in July, 1999 by freelance writer Chris Baty in San Francisco Bay with 21 participants. It was moved to November in 2000 to “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather” and launched an official website. Participants attempt to write a 50,000 word manuscript between Nov. 1-30. By the 2010 event, over 200,000 participants wrote over 2.8 billion words. In 2013, January and February were deemed NaNoWriMo’s “Now What?” Months, designed to help novelists during the editing and revision process with a goal of getting published.

It’s All About the Numbers

To win NaNoWriMo, which focuses on quantity or length and awards those who finish, participants must write an average of approximately 1,667 words per day in November to reach the goal of 50,000 words.  Let’s see, my newest novel, The Jealous Son, due out next year, is 80,270 words (before editing). I actually was working from home primarily as a full-time author during the time I wrote it (between Jan.-April 2017). I was lucky, I had quit my day job and I could focus on my writing. I learned that a “system” that worked for me was to write during my “prime time” of day – from the time I woke up, coffee in hand, at 7 am until I felt worn out from writing and needed to work on my other “jobs,” (marketing my other books, teaching writing at my local college and as a book coach) – which was typically around 1-2 pm. I figured I could write 3 pages in 2 hours…which meant about 9-10 pages a day. One day at a time I got it finished, edited and submitted to a literary agent by July…and it’s being published in June, 2019!

When you focus and concentrate your best time to a project, you achieve the quickest and best results. Of course you can only do what you can do. But the bottom line is to schedule writing time into your week and stay focused!

Decisions and Deadlines

Organizers of the event say that the aim is to get people to start writing, using the deadline as an incentive to get the story going and to put words to paper. As a former news reporter, I’ve always worked best with a deadline. But you also have to make some choices in advance of putting pen to paper.

Make those choices as soon as possible so you can be free to write. Come up with a good catchy title (narrow your selection to two or three and Google said titles to see if they are unique (or close). Come up with your character outlines too so you “know” your characters and they can flow along with your plot (see below). Do as much research up front as possible. Also devise a timeline for your narrative so you don’t lose track of your characters’ ages, birthdays, etc. And know your readers (or audience) which will help determine your genre.

Put the Finish Line First

How does your story end? You need to know before you start! Decide on your storyline or plot and write it down in a chapter outline. I am a firm believer (as a marketing expert) in the need for a plan. If you have a chapter outline, you will have a road map to get where you’re going much faster and easier than if you don’t.

Do you know where you want your novel to end up? In the hands of friends and family? On the New York Times Bestseller List? In the hands of movie producers for adaptation? This will be important when it comes to making more choices down the line such as finding a publisher, marketing your book and setting goals for yourself. Finally, what message do you want to leave for your readers? (I also believe the best books and movies leave a message – be it educational, informational, inspirational or transformational – behind. Decide what you want your readers to get out of your book so you stick to the main message.

Save the Editing for Later…but Still Use Good Style

You don’t want to have writer’s block too soon in the game, which is why you want to edit your work at the end – after you’re finished writing. If you get too bogged down in word choices and proper grammar, you may lose your motivation, creative genius or writing zest – and it may take ages before you’re done. BUT, do use all of the recommendations of those who know the craft (and if you don’t know, read books on it like “Elements of Style” by Strunk & White, take a writing course, go to a good writers conference or email me). Show not tell, use strong nouns and verbs, don’t use clutter, etc. etc. The more effort you spend in writing well up front, the less work you’ll have to do later.

Now go forth, write, write, write! And make sure you celebrate when you’re all done – let me know and I’ll celebrate too!

Michele Chynoweth is the award-winning author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker and The Runaway Prophet, contemporary suspense/romance novels based on Old Testament stories in the Bible that get across God’s messages to today’s readers through edgy, fast-paced fiction. Michele is also an inspirational speaker, college instructor on book writing, publishing and marketing, and book coach/editor who helps writers become successful authors. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she and her husband have a blended family of five children.

Social Media/Website Links:

Website: michelechynoweth.com

Blog: michelechynoweth1.wordpress.com

Facebook Author Page: ModernDayBibleStories

Twitter: AuthorMichele

You Tube: MicheleChynoweth

Categories
Screenwriting

The Plot

A few months ago, I was asked by an agency to do a rewrite of an older screenplay I wrote. Idealistically, this sounds rather simple. However, the process of reworking the narrative while maintaining the plot is proving to be both time-consuming and difficult, to say the least.

Imagine taking a completed puzzle apart adding a few new pieces and then putting it all together in a different order and ending up with the same picture as before. Yes, the process is just as confusing as the analogy sounds.

Since I’ve taken over this column earlier this year, I’ve purposely been going through the main pieces of the puzzle we call screenwriting.

  1. Action (Moving Along, Sound Off)
  2. Characters (Keep It Real)
  3. Genre (Messy)
  4. Conflict (Friction)
  5. Setting

Robert McKee noted, “A beautifully told story is a symphonic unity in which structure, setting, genre and idea meld seamlessly.” Together these elements make up the plot of our story. And that is what I want to focus on in this post before we finish the year up next month.

Plot?

When I talk about plot, I’m referencing the noun form of the word and not the verb form which is an action. A movie’s plot is not the same as its theme; however, it can be the vehicle to express your underlying theme or message.

It is simply the main events of the screenplay that someone creates and arranges in a specific order to tell a story. A strong and clear plot is essential to great screenwriting…and great storytelling.

Great movies are ones where the writer has balanced each of the elements to a degree where they enhance one another. Weak writing places more emphasis on one element over another.

  • There may be lots of action visually, but no depth to any of the characters.
  • Characters may be explicitly described physically but have no depth or personality.
  • The conflict may be so intense, yet the story seems chaotic, without any direction.
  • Perhaps the setting is so defined; there is no room for the story or our imaginations to grow.

How many times have many of us walked out of the theater after forking out our hard-earned money for good entertainment to only be let down by an overrated light show or misleading and hyped up advertising that never satisfies our longing for a narrative?

So far this year the biggest flop has been the much-anticipated screen adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, it has been reported that Disney has lost $100 million from its production.

Last year the film The Promise lost $80 million.

The solution for tipping the scales in the right direction of the balance act we call plot is taking the time to plot–meaning the verb sense of the word, where writers take the time to painstakingly brainstorm and lay out each of the puzzle pieces (characters, events, scenes, turning points, subplots) they plan to use to tell their story.

The end result will be a clearer and more fulfilling plot and our audience will leave the theater having understood not just our story, but its theme, which brings everything together neatly through our plot.

Together?

Once we have our plot, we will see what genre our story fits in. In simple terms, genre in films or literary works categorized by similar subjects, styles, and format. I will discuss this more next year. But for now, the five basic genres screenwriting are

  1. Tragedy – drama that tackles serious or sorrowful events in life.

  1. Comedy – stories that incite humorous narratives about life.

  1. Romances– drama which focuses on a plot about love, between two people or at the least an attempt to find love.

  1. Horror – Plots that offer incite negative responses by our audience, playing off primal fear.

  1. Fantasy/sci-fi – stories that often involve magic or supernatural causes, lots of action sequences as a primary story element or theme.

One of the ironies of screenwriting is the importance of drama. Most of us do not like or tolerate drama in our lives and we go to whatever means we have to avoid it.

However, drama in film helps us to relate to the story, whether it’s a tragedy, comedy or romance. How often do we visualize ourselves into the world of the story?

Each type of drama has its purpose and place: tragedies give us hope in suffering, comedies make us laugh at life, and romances inspire us to love.

Whatever your purpose, it will be a direct result of the plot.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic 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.

Categories
My Writing Journey

Lessons I Learned Along the Way

The fact I started writing a full-length novel as full-time student might seem a little scary, and you’d be right – I did have to combat some fears.

What if it’s not good? What if my characters are lame? What if I can’t keep up the rigorous writing schedule? And my biggest one: What if I can’t finish? Here are some tips that helped me go from blank page to completed manuscript.

Surround Yourself With Like-Minded Individuals

Maybe you don’t have a professional mentor or community. That’s OK. I started on YouTube. No kidding.

I didn’t have a writing community. A good majority of my friends were pursuing teaching degrees or business majors and could only try to relate to the creative side of my life.

Instead of ducking out I searched YouTube and watched hundreds of interviews of different creatives on their craft. Even if you have to start small, start learning from others. You’ll be thankful later!

Lesson I Learned:

You don’t have to have a physical community to be inspired by others. Use what you have in the season you’re in.

Don’t Get Discouraged By Feedback

Throughout the writing/editing process I asked different people to read portions of my book. One reader became so invested in the story she said if something bad happened to a certain character she was going to give up on the book. Needless to say I freaked out.

I spent the majority of my night wondering what in the world to do. What I had written was going to devastate my reader, but it worked best for the story. Thankfully my writing mentor told me to stick with my original intensions. Encouraged, I stayed true to the story. Trust your gut. You’re the writer, after all!

Lesson I Learned:
Stay true to what you set out to do and work hard to complete it, even when you occasionally get feedback you weren’t expecting.  

Work For, Don’t Worry For, the Future

I started out afraid I wouldn’t finish my book on time, then I wrote that last sentence at 4:48pm on a sunny Thursday and defeated that fear with accomplishment. But then I started worrying the book wouldn’t get picked up by a publishing company.

Instead of worrying about a book deal, I started writing a book proposal and reading up on what a good one looks like. I started networking. I met with the VP of Marketing at a big publishing house and asked his advice. I hardcore edited my entire book – 4 times!

Lesson I Learned: 

Show yourself some integrity and finish what you’ve started, no matter how scared you are to keep the promise you originally made.

The future will always come, but you get to decide how you meet it: ill-equipped and embarrassed, or prepared and ready for success. Whatever your goal is, keep working toward it. You never know what one day will bring. All those days piled up are what make the mountain of success at the end!

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, is planning a speaking tour, and actively seeking publication for two books.

Categories
Literary Women in Histor

Sarah Hale, Heroic History-Maker: The Pen that Perseveres and Persuades

With the November holiday season upon us, turkey tops the menu lists for traditional American fare at family gatherings. The iconic bird remains undivided from thoughts of Thanksgiving Day, even though the original celebrants in 1621, at Plimoth Plantation, enjoyed more fish and venison dishes as opposed to turkey.

Thanksgiving Day on the November calendar—turkey or not—exists these 150+ years thanks to the historic efforts of American author and style-setter, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale. This patriotic Christian and daughter of the revolution lived an amazing life through the course of the 19th century, serving heroically as wife, mother, widow, writer, publisher, opinion shaper, and history maker.

Sarah Josepha Buell entered the world in 1788, born to Captain Gordon Buell, a veteran of the War of Independence, and Martha Whittlesay Buell in Newport, New Hampshire. Sarah’s love of learning and literature sprouted early and blossomed under the homeschool tutelage of her mother and older brother. She reveled in the grand, patriotic stories she heard at her father’s knee, who passed onto her—through the power of story—a love of God, country, liberty, and truth.

Sarah sought out opportunities for self-learning in many disciplines until she earned a teaching certificate. She accepted a position near her home where she gained a reputation as an engaging storyteller.

One day, a lamb followed a student to school and waited outside the schoolhouse for its owner until Sarah dismissed the class. She thought this was charming and wrote a story in verse about it. That little rhyme has been charming generations ever since. Perhaps you remember the sing-song ditty:

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.

 In 1811, Sarah met and married a lawyer named David Hale. Over the next ten years she gave him five children before he died in 1822. She wore black mourning dress for the rest of her life.

As a widow and single mother with strong skills and a resourceful spirit, Sarah used her academic and writing gifts to provide for her family. She first published a collection of poems in 1823. By 1827, she published a novel titled, Northwood: Life North and South, addressing an abolitionist view of slavery.

This so impressed publisher Reverend John Blake, that he invited her to take a full-time staff position for The Ladies Magazine in Boston, the most popular magazine for American women in the 19th century. Eventually, The Ladies Magazine was acquired by the periodical journal Godey’s Ladies Book, with Sarah promoted to editor.

For the next 40 years—until she was 90 years old—Sarah Hale’s editorial pen proved a formidable weight of authority on every-day American life for women and families. Her Christian faith, intelligence, strength of character, and literate lifestyle exacted tremendous influence over fashions and homemaking.

Reflecting a strong biblical worldview, Sarah’s practical, persuasive words wielded a powerful sway on public opinion. If Sarah said it—American women were doing it. She eagerly pursued the advancement of higher education for women writing:

” . . . not that they may usurp the situation or encroach on the prerogatives of man; but that each individual may lend her aid to the intellectual and moral character of those within her sphere.”

Helping women to impact “within her sphere” would eventually result in women—through the work of their pen—making a unifying, permanent mark on the American calendar and tradition during a critical moment in history.

Thanksgiving: The Founder of the Feast

Sarah’s most famous editorials centered on her personal mission to see a national Thanksgiving Day officially declared by the president of the United States. She longed to see a day set aside where every American gathered with their families, on the same day, in praise, with grateful hearts for the many blessings of God bestowed upon a growing nation. Sarah was burdened by the cultural divide between the American North and South. The slavery issue fueled this rift, and unrest settled across the country, stirring the people to prayer. Sarah believed the problem required a return to the heart of America’s founding principles in the spirit of our Pilgrim forefathers, seeking peace and unity in a shared country under God.

Inspired by the well documented thanksgiving feast of 1621, celebrated by English Christian settlers and Native Americans, she began to do more than just address this in editorials. She started write letters hoping to persuade political powers to proclaim a Thanksgiving Day for everyone in the nation.

Sarah’s pen was not a lone ranger. She instigated an army of quills in the hands of American women through an ongoing letter-writing campaign in the course of five presidential administrations over fifteen years. Her crusade for the proclamation of an official American Thanksgiving Day never wavered. Her influence on America’s God-fearing women, praying for God’s peace and national unity under the cloud of unrest between the North and the South, culminated in blanketing the nation’s capital with petitions to the purpose.

Sarah’s faith undergirded a belief in the importance of her quest. She heroically persevered through years of disappointment until she and her legions of petitioners succeeded. At the height of America’s Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1863, including these words of note:

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most-high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy . . . I do therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens . . . it is announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord . . . it has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.

It is important to note that prior to the Civil War, each state considered itself its own country. Many issues divided them one from another. Loosely uniting together to defeat a common enemy in the War of Independence some 80 years earlier, 1860s America had reached a threshold of decision on the battlefields of the Civil War. Lincoln, as president, had to be able to unite the nation and bring peace. The path to do so was bloody and traumatic, shifting the nation with rippling effects still felt today.

Time-honored, cultural traditions often prove a powerful stabilizer in unstable times.

For over 150 years, on Thanksgiving Day each November, the stabilizing effect of tradition continues to minister peace and unity within our currently fractured society. American families from sea to shining sea gather around a table of customary foods such as turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The effect of Sarah Hale’s personal mission, perseverance, and influence upon the average 19th century American woman nationwide is directly responsible for this chapter of American history being written and relevant to us today.

May we consider well the words pouring forth from our pens as women and writers, wielding them, for all the good things and beauty the Lord would use, to invade the self-destructing habits of human nature and nations.

Journal Prompt: What kind of history-maker mark is your pen leaving for future generations? Is your pen’s passion influencing within your sphere for those things that work to unify and bring peace? Who is the sphere of society you seek to influence most? What is your message? Do you have perseverance to continue writing even when if seems you are not having the effect you want to have?

[bctt tweet=”#SarahHale teaches us to use our pens in perseverance and persuasion to affect the generations; Women Writers in Life and Letters Series @A3writers @misskathypwp” username=””]

[bctt tweet=” #Women Writers in Life and Letters— #SarahHale, Heroic History-Maker: The Pen that Perseveres and Persuades @A3writers @misskathypwp” username=””]

Learn more about the history of the Plimoth Plantation Thanksgiving story dramatized on The Writer’s Reverie Podcast, Episode 3, by Kathryn Ross, From Leyden to Liberty, including The Ballad of Plimoth Plantation. 

Writer-speaker, Kathryn Ross, ignites a love of literature and learning through Pageant Wagon Publishing. She writes and publishes homeschool enrichment and Christian living books for home, church, and school. In addition, she shepherds writers through the steps book development and production. Her passion to equip women and families in developing a Family Literacy Lifestyle, produces readers and thinkers who can engage the world from a biblical worldview. She blogs and podcasts at TheWritersReverie.com and PageantWagonPublishing.com. Connect with Miss Kathy on Facebook.

Categories
My Writing Journey

Am I Good Enough?

Talented. Well-intended affirmation sculpted my ego into a thin glass spine. Unaware of how fragile my assurance would soon prove, I ventured into the world of writing conferences. I could invite publishers to join my team of encouragers.

Let’s just say things didn’t go as I had expected. Publishers didn’t coddle me with praise-padded enthusiasm. My misplaced confidence took several critical blows.

Ego properly shattered, I limped to my room. Crawled into a fetal position. Bawled. I no longer believed in myself. I doubted the talent with which others had defined me.

After a snot-streaked, prayerful cry, the Lord stood me back up. Reminded me to follow the call. I resolved to continue writing, keep trying to pursue the work God set before me.

But, the question had etched itself as a skipping album in my mind. Its haunting words would play over and over in my head for years to come.

Am I good enough?

For years, I strove to extinguish my doubt by improving my skill. I went to many workshops, conferences, and writing retreats. I learned a wealth of new craft insights and enjoyed priceless fellowship with other struggling writers.

Yet self-doubt and temptation to give up dogged my heels. I strove harder to emulate the techniques of successful writers. With each new level of training, I merely realized how much more I had yet to learn.

Then, I heard best-selling authors admit they’d heard the question, too.

One day, I cried out to the Lord, “I’m not good enough!”

You’re right. I’m glad you realized that. He responded. But I AM.

Now, I place little faith in fleeting matters of talent and success. Why settle for them? I’m intimately connected to the most creative source in the universe. He’s not merely adequate. He trumps all insufficiency, owns the patents on our gifts, eliminates the very concept of failure.

I still hear the question sometimes. The enemy isn’t the creative one. He re-uses his original strategies. Pride. Discouragement. The temptation to believe fulfilling God’s purpose depends on whether I’m any good.

Scripture confirms none of us are any good. “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). Thank God we don’t have to stake our confidence in ourselves.

The Lord encourages us to offer him our best. He calls us to serve him with excellence. If called to write, we should attend conferences and hone our craft. When doubts arise, we must stake our faith in something greater than our own effort, however. The Lord alone holds the right to define us and to determine our calling.

Author, speaker, licensed counselor, and life coach, Tina Yeager has won over twenty-two writing awards. She publishes Inkspirations Online, a writers’ devotional, and mentors five chapters of Word Weavers International. To book her as a speaker, coach, or manuscript therapist, check out divineencouragement.com or tyeagerwrites.com.

Tina adores embracing new friends, so feel free to offer hugs to her avatars at Facebook , Twitter , Instagram tina.yeager.9, LinkedIn , Goodreads, and Pinterest