Category: Guest Posts

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A Writer’s Legacy

As a writer, we’ll leave behind our work. Our written words, either in print or on a blog. In a book or on screen. But there are other ways to leave a legacy. Helping those coming along after you.

No matter where you are on your writer’s journey, you can be of help and encouragement to those who haven’t learned quite as much as you have.

Maybe they’re a new writer and haven’t realized that editing is essential. Possibly, you’re that new writer. You may wonder how you can help someone. It’s easy. Just encourage.

The other day, Facebook told me that six years ago, I finished the first rough draft of my first novel, Meghan’s Choice. 121,000 thousand words. I knew I was going to have to chop a lot—and I did.

Then, I hired my first Christian Writer’s Guild mentor to do a “substantive” edit on my novel. I’m so glad I did, because she helped me learn even more a writing technique called scene and sequel. I had a bunch of “scenes” that weren’t scenes—because nothing happened, and there was no clear purpose to them. I did a huge revision.

Secondly, my mentor told me Meghan wasn’t likeable. She helped me change Meghan Gallagher into someone like my original vision of the character, only better, and someone whom readers could cheer for. I entered a contest and got into the semi-finals. One of the comments was that the Meghan was likeable.

My mentor sowed into me.

I have sowed into others—and I encourage you to do the same.

I attend a local Christian writers’ group with the sole intention of encouraging other writers.

I’m editing a novel for a ninety-one (yes, 91) year old woman who is just finishing her second novel. She’s a great storyteller, but her writing technique is a bit antiquated. She’s told me time and again how much she’s learned just by having me edit her novel.

That’s a lot how I learned, too. By having someone show us the way.

What will you do to leave your legacy? Show someone behind you, help them along in their journey.

BIO

Donna L.H. Smith is married and lives in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman and holds two degrees in communications. She blogs regularly and serves two Christian writer’s organizations. Her first novel, Meghan’s Choice, was a finalist in both the 2018 Selah Awards and the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Rose’s Redemption, her second novel, was placed third in Western Fiction in the 2019 Selah Awards. Both novels are available on Amazon. For more information, visit her website at www.donnalhsmith.com. Facebook: Donna L.H. Smith Twitter: @donnalhsmith

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Guest Posts

How to Run an Effective Writing Group

Dan Brotzel, author of a new comic novel about a writers’ group and a member of a successful group in real life, shares some practical tips…

How do you get started?

Writers’ groups often begin with a nucleus of a few friends with a shared interest in writing. From there, you might put out feelers in local networks or you library. Groups typically meet every 2-4 weeks.

Tip: Don’t worry if you only have a small group at the outset. This will give you time to work out the right format and approach for your group.

What’s the best format?

In our group, everyone brings along an original piece of work to read, and we listen and then give feedback and discuss each one in turn. Some writers’ circles may set writing challenges or discuss writing-related topics. The key thing is to find a format that works for your group. For me, you can’t beat the experience of reading out loud to others as a way of developing as a writer. 

Tip: Avoid any misunderstandings by making it clear at the outset what the format of the group will be.

What’s the optimum group size?

For us, 5-6 is best, if you consider that we meet for about three hours in evenings and it takes roughly half an hour to hear and discuss each member’s work. Some bigger groups are open to all-comers every time, which may mean that only a few of the people present can read. This is a pity, because the best groups provide a supportive environment where even the least experienced or confident writers can feel empowered to read something.

Tip: If you have a lot of interest in your group, you may need to cap each meeting to a maximum number, perhaps by booking in the first 7 people and having a couple of reserves.

Do members have to attend every time?

No. Our group has a core of about 5 regulars, and another 4-5 who come when they can. But even regulars can’t make it very time, so in practice we usually get a turnout of about 6-7. If lots of people are having problem making a date, we’ll just reschedule for a better time.

Tip: Let people find their own frequency of attending. Having a slightly different mix of people each time helps keep things fresh too.

Where’s the best place to host a group?

Some groups take place in pubs or cafes. But it can be a challenge to find the right space to meet undisturbed. Our group meets roughly every fortnight in a different member’s living room each time. This creates an intimate and comfortable atmosphere that works really well for what we’re trying to achieve.

Tip: Not everyone has a home space that’s ideal for a group like this, and some groups meet in the same home every time. Let members know that hosting a group is optional.

What can you read?
Our group is very flexible on this. You can read a poem, an extract from a novel, a script – anything really, so long as it’s yours. Self-contained pieces probably work best, so long as they aren’t too long – 3000 words is about the maximum for our sessions.

Tip: Encourage people to read something, even if it’s a practice piece or an old story, as well as to feed back. That way, they’ll feel more part of the group.

How do you handle feedback?
The key is for feedback to be honest, constructive and supportive. You want to try and articulate what you thought and felt as you were listening to a piece, say what you liked about it and perhaps a suggestion or two about how it might have worked even better. But of course you don’t have to say everything you think.

Tip: When feeding back, look out for good storytelling, giving the reader pictures, engaging the emotions, keeping the reader entertained or in suspense or amused.

What if there are disagreements in the group?

Writing is an intense, personal business, and disagreements can inevitably happen. You might get differences of opinion about the way the group is run, or someone might object to some feedback or to the content of a piece of writing. A big help here is to be clear about what the group is for and have a few ground rules about material, reading time per member, approach to feedback and so on.

Tip: Circulate a brief summary of how the group works and a few basic ground rules.

Dan Brotzel is co-author of Kitten on a Fatberg, a comic novel about a writers’ group. As a reader of this blog, you can pre-order Kitten on a Fatberg for a 10% discount — quote code KITTEN10

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Guest Posts

How to Build Blog Traffic the Smart Way – Part 2

In the beginning of your blogging journey, you most likely won’t have anyone but your mom reading your posts and commenting on them. That is, if she’s Internet and tech-savvy. Otherwise, a blog can be a lonely place. Unless you know how to let people know about your posts and how to find other bloggers.

Here are three techniques you can try to make your blog less lonely and to increase blog traffic.

4. Get Linky with It!

Add your blog’s URL everywhere you have a social media presence and in all of your profiles:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Goodreads
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Amazon Author Profile
  • Email Signature
  • Add your blog’s URL among your links with your bio when you do a book blog tour or guest post on another bloggers site.
  • Add your blog’s feed to your Goodreads and Amazon author profiles so your newest posts will be visible in those places as well.

5. Share Away

The most important thing to do after writing a blog post worth publishing is to share it. That’s the easiest way to reach people. So, share your blog post to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. When you do this, include a hook or the first paragraph of your post to entice people to click.

You can also create an image quote featuring the title or a short, catchy quote from the post. These images can be used on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

On Instagram, when you share those images, you can insert the direct link to the post in your Instagram profile with a tip in the image’s caption for viewers to find the link there.

Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags whenever you share a post to social media, especially on Twitter and Instagram. The most used hashtags come up when you insert # and start typing immediately after it, without inputting a space.

On Facebook, search for and join groups where your target audience can be found. If they allow promo—check their rules first—share your post.

6. Join Up

In the blogosphere there are several monthly blog hops that you can join that’ll guarantee increased blog traffic. The key is to not only sign up for a hop and post on the designated day, but to participate. Visit 10-20 other bloggers and comment on their posts. And if someone visits you and leaves a comment, return a visit and give their post a thoughtful reply back. This is how you can develop friendships in the blogosphere and get actual followers. Trust me, this is the best, assured way to get traffic.

Check out these recurring blog hops:

  • Insecure Writer’s Support Group Blog Hop takes place every first Wednesday. Over 200 writers share their insecurities and talk about writing writing/publishing. They also offer an optional question that changes each month, in case you struggle with what to post.
  • #AuthorToolBoxBlogHop occurs on the third Monday of every month and is for authors to share their expertise on anything they want to share with other authors.
  • Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly blog hop that happens every Friday and is a way for you to get to know other bloggers in your community by sharing what brought you happiness throughout the week, anything big or small.
  • Write…Edit..Publish posts the third Wednesday of every other month, participants share short stories/poems (up to 1,000 words) on an assigned theme.

There are also occasional blog hops that bloggers put on randomly. I’ve done fun hops related to my books. Keep an eye out for these hops by visiting and following many blogs.

What makes any of this matter is, of course, having a blog to begin with (check out my post Blogging 101) and…well…doing these things. You can’t just wait for traffic to come to your blog. This isn’t a “if you build it, they will come” scenario. You have to be proactive. Take your time, challenge yourself, and think outside the box.

The blogosphere is waiting for you. Welcome!

Chrys Fey is the author of Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. Fey is an editor for Dancing Lemur Press and runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Goodreads book club. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, www.WritewithFey.com, for more tips.

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How to Build Blog Traffic the Smart Way – Part 1

When you start up a blog or already have one created, the number one thing you’ll want to know is how to get traffic to your blog. After all, you don’t want your blog posts to get lost in a giant Internet void, and you’re not writing blog posts for an invisible audience, either. So, what can you do to increase the chances of your blog posts getting read and discovered? I’m glad you asked!

1. Original, Valuable Content

First and foremost, you need content on your blog that’ll get people wanting to come to your blog to read the posts. How do you do that? Simply put, you have to write posts that offer readers something they need. That, however, is the hardest part.

What constitutes as valuable depends on who you want to attract. If you want writer visitors, share tips about writing, editing, publishing, or marketing that has a different spin on it. If you want home cooks, unique recipes are the ticket. If you want crafters, provide clever DIY projects for kids and all seasons/holidays. If you want readers, discuss things that are in your books (places, myths, your characters’ hobbies, anything that has to do with your genre or the theme behind your books). Create a list of ideas and have fun.

2. Catchy Titles

In order to get someone to click on links to your blog, you not only need to offer something people would want, but you also need to use titles that will stand out among other articles and blog posts about the same topics and catch their attention. Play with the words. Get creative. State what’s in your post in a fun way. I have a post titled Write with Gaga that’s about writing style.

If your post is a how-to article, include the words “how to” with a unique description of what you are instructing readers to do, such as How to Build Blog Traffic the Smart Way.

If you’re offering a number of tips/advice (a list of some sort) in your blog post, add that number to your title, such as: 5 Ways to Spice Up Your Amazon Book Pages.

Adding keywords to the titles of your blog posts will also provide specificity, attract readers, and help with getting your posts noticed by search engines such as Google. “Amazon Book Pages” and “Build Blog Traffic” are great keyword phrases that tell readers exactly what you post is about and likely are entered into searches by people look for that information. Why not make your posts discoverable by adding keywords to your titles?

3. Keywords/Phrases

Keywords and keyword phrases aren’t just important in titles but throughout your post, too, which will increase its likelihood of being visible, and higher up, in search results. Figure out keywords and phrases that describe your blog post’s topic and use a few of these keywords/phrases within the first few paragraphs and in subheadings.

In Blogger, when you are creating your post, there is a box in the right sidebar labeled “Search Description.” Click on it and add a sentence or two describing your blog post using keywords/phrases. This acts as a summary that shows up beneath your post’s title when it shows up in search results and can increase the odds of people clicking on your post instead of, or with, other websites.  

Also include them in the labels/categories/tags box when you’re setting up your post so they can be used to organize your posts. If you have a search gadget/widget to your blog, whatever tags you create will help your posts appear when a visitors searches for a specific topic on your blog.

These smart techniques are ones that you can do while setting up your posts, but there are more techniques you can do after you publish a post to increase traffic to your blog.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of How to Build Blog Traffic the Smart Way.

Chrys Fey is the author of Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. Fey is an editor for Dancing Lemur Press and runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Goodreads book club. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, www.WritewithFey.com, for more tips.

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How Writing 3 Pages a Day Can Change Your Productivity

My story of a productivity struggle began when I started as a blog writer several years ago. At that time I had an immense motivation to become a better content writer, but the more I worked on perfecting my skill, the more I felt a kind of a psychological obstacle that didn’t allow me to focus and remain productive for longer periods of time.

At one point I understood that every idea that comes to my head doesn’t inspire me to continue working, I felt trapped. I realized that I needed to keep writing to maintain my skill level, but I felt unproductive, and, as the result, no ideas came to my head.

During that period of time, I already started working as a blog writer and I was afraid that my lack of productivity would start affecting the quality of my work. But instead of seeking help on the never-ending pages of the Internet, I decided to ask for help from people who were in this profession for a long time.

Now, here’s the most interesting part: I thought that I was experiencing a professional burnout and, consequently, all I needed to do is have some rest. But my good friend Dina Indelicato, a blog writer at PickWriters, told me: “Only practicing writing can get you out of this situation”.

It turned out that when she started her career as a writer, she experienced the same thing. The way that got her through this productivity drought was writing 3 pages every morning. Simple as that. It didn’t have to be work-related tasks, just creative writing or journaling.

Why 3 pages, you may ask? Why not one or whatever the amount you like?

  • If you keep writing 3 pages every day, it will allow you to maintain your writing skill within the same level. Normally, writers have to create 3 and more pages a day. To achieve productivity, 3 pages a day is a perfect amount to train your writing skill.
  • It’s a perfect amount of pages to let all your thoughts and ideas out. Besides, when you start writing, you may even notice that 3 pages are not enough.

This simple strategy is an easy productivity booster.

Here are 3 main rules to follow:

1) Don’t plan what you’re going to write. Just let the ideas, thoughts, and emotions flow.

2) There’s no structure. This method is aimed at generating ideas and increasing creativity.

3) This method is aimed at on-the-spot writing. Simply start writing to launch the creative process.

To be honest, right after I started practicing this method, I realized that it requires a great deal of discipline, which I didn’t have due to the lack of productivity. For the first couple of weeks, I had to force myself to open my laptop and start writing. However, soon I started noticing that it became a new habit of mine, and I couldn’t continue my day without writing these 3 pages. There were some other great changes in productivity, which I observed, like:

  • I had a clearer mind, and, as a result, I became more focused.
  • My working process became more consistent. Despite the fact that writing 3 pages a day doesn’t require a structure, my writing for work became more organized.
  • I became an idea generator. This method became a creative outlet for me, letting me take a look at the ideas I had in my head but never got a chance to voice them.

I keep following this method ’til today. Thanks to doing these 3 pages every day, I became a better, more organized writer. I feel that this method fuels my productivity every day, allowing me to accomplish all my task for the day and not feel mentally and physically exhausted.

Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks and empowers using the magic of a word. She is practicing regularly while reviewing new translation services at Pick Writers and constantly contributing to other educational platforms. Along with pursuing her degree in Creative Writing, Kristin has gained experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in marketing strategy for publishers and authors. You can find her on Facebook.

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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.

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Writing with Family

Writing a book is a process.

It began as a school assignment for my granddaughter when she was in third grade. She is now a seventh grader.

She was supposed to write 100 words and grace her pages with artwork. From her hand-written pages, I typed. Then she drew.

A little girl collected buttons and had a favorite that she had misplaced. She searched and searched, and searched some more–and found it! That was her story.

She put her finished work in a binder decorated with buttons. She earned a very good grade.

And I said, “I think you have something here. Let’s keep going.”

So we worked to understand the girl. Why was the button important? What did the girl look like? What did she like? Who was her family? Who were her friends?

We switched from third person (she) to first person (I). We developed a reason the button was important. We added family, friends, dialogue, description, repeating symbolism, and motives.

I thought we had a picture book, so I shared it with an author/friend. She said, “It’s not a picture book. It’s a chapter book. Keep working.”

So we did.

Writing a book is a process.

 

We shifted from the perspective of the little girl to the viewpoint of one of the previously peripheral characters–a boy–a new kid in town.

We drew in a team of helpers–her brother and some of their cousins. Sometimes, a committee of us met in a very professional manner discussing the story and deciding how to enhance it—even once debating a character’s name.

Around my dining room table, the family at large discussed the hair color of one character—calling a cousin down from the playroom to be our model.

Sometimes, ideas popped up during car rides.

Sometimes, I wrote alone.

One day, I typed as a grandson and I developed a chapter together.

Just last evening, another grandson gave us our revised title.

Now, we have more than 12,000 words. And so begins the process of cutting fat that may weigh it down and slow its journey to print. During that process, we search for places to add flesh and blood where the text is dry bone.

Then we will ask others to invest in it—to help us send it on its way. Will it float and fly? Or will our labors continue? To do otherwise is to let our project die. And our dream is that it will live in the imaginations of many.

Wordcraft is a process in which we grow along with our characters, a process that weaves bonds by telling stories real and imagined.

William Faulkner said writing is “agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before.”

We are making a piece of work that did not exist before. Something from our human spirits. And in that process, we’ve explored life and characters and human character and tightened the bonds between us.

Writing a book is a wonderful process.

 

Writer and teacher Nancy E. Head is the author of the soon-to-be-published Restoring the Shattered: Illustrating Christ’s Love Through the Church in One Accord. Nancy was a single mother with five children under the age of 14 when she attended Penn State to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  Her career took a journalistic turn from radio news to newspaper reporting, then education before she returned to the classroom to secure a master’s degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Currently an instructor at Penn State Altoona and Great Commission Schools, she also spent two summers teaching English in Asia.  She is a member of the Altoona Writers’ Guild, the Christian Writers’ Roundtable, and Toastmasters.

When not teaching or writing, she restores antique quilts, crafts projects for her grandchildren, and helps her husband lead a small group devoted to ministering to the needy in their community.

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Why Should I Market An Unpublished Book?

“Lisa, everyone is asking me when they can buy a copy of the book.”

I looked at my friend without exasperation as I explained what I knew of the process. “I know, but first I need an agent, and then a publisher.”

“But why do you need an agent and how do you get one?”

Ah, there’s the rub. The advent of self-publishing has changed how people view the process of getting an actual “I can hold it in my hands” book into the marketplace. It’s easy enough to put an e-book together, and it takes more work (and money) to hire a company to print your book. If you go that route, the general rule is you must pay for the book’s production and then you have to do the marketing and get it placed in bookstores on your own. It can turn into a tremendous outlay of time and money (See a theme here?).

When an author wants a powerhouse publication, we go the traditional route, securing an agent who then finds a publisher. To get an agent you need a book proposal, which is like a business plan. Can you say research?

When I first met with the lady who would become my agent (Yes! It happened!), she liked the premise of the book and asked me to submit a proposal. It includes three synopses of the book (of varying sizes), chapter summaries, comparable works, an endorsement list, marketing plans (There it is!), and a few chapters of the book. After all, you must show the agent that you can, you know, write.

I had no clue what was involved until I started writing Marshall’s memoir, Someplace To Be Somebody. He finally got it when he thought of LeBron James, a local young man some of you may have heard of.

“Okay, so it’s like LeBron. For him to get the best contract, he has to have an agent who looks out for him.”

“Bingo!” We finally jumped that hurdle of understanding.

“But why are we doing all of this advertising when we don’t even have a book?”

It’s a valid question because it’s imperative for an author (especially a first-timer) to be a viable asset for a publisher. They need to know we have a following of people who will buy the book. I keep Marshall busy with promotional videos, and I asked him to share news on his social media sites. We were recently interviewed by Patricia Durgin (Marketers on a Mission) about the book, and we utilize Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and blog posts.

You have to get creative when it comes to book marketing. Publishers no longer do all of that work for an author, and it’s more than just going to book stores and doing a signing. It’s thinking way outside of the box and coming up with unique ways to interest people in your adventure (Yep, we’re not in Kansas anymore).

It’s about getting name recognition, speaking engagements, email lists, viral blog posts and Youtube videos, a large following, and giveaways.

Wait. What? This is where the real creativity comes in. I have to bow to those who lead the way in this (Bethany Jett, Cody Morehead, Edie Melson, Cyle Young, e.g.). They know what entices publishers, and they share! Wow! What a bonus, too for a new author to have their excellent help and support.

As we maneuver our way toward publication, marketing serves as an essential tool. As I learn, it’s my joy to share with other authors.

Lisa Kibler is a writer/blogger and international speaker. She has been published in Celebrate Gettysburg, CBN.com, and contributed to Heart Renovation by Lighthouse Bible Studies. She has just completed Someplace To Be Somebody, the memoir of former Black Nationalist, Pastor Marshall Brandon. Lisa is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. Her website is lisakibler.com

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Write Drama Right

Drama moves people like nothing else. Action, pauses, body language, and emotional rawness take them to highs, lows, and everywhere in between, all occurring in a matter of minutes.

Achieving those actions and reactions, however, takes hours of writing, rewriting, and writhing. As playwrights, we agonize as we dig for just the right word, facial expression, and movement to make a message flow.

The following guidelines will make that process less burdensome and your presentation more meaningful.

Research

In order to write good drama, read good drama, particularly the style you plan to write. Notice the format, word flow, brevity and clarity of stage directions, and the simplicity of scenes and sets.

Reading basic how-to books on writing effective drama also helps. Kathy Ide’s Christian Drama Publishing: How to Write a Powerful Script and Get It Published provides essential tips for getting started. More detailed publications, classes, workshops, and writers groups or mentors add to your developing knowledge and ability.

Reflect

Know your subjects. Understand and reflect the ages, backgrounds, and interests of your characters. Research the history, culture, speech, and idiosyncrasies of that time.

When you choose appropriate names, costumes, language, and props, you add to the authenticity of your scenes. People (think editors and publishers) will notice a lack of or slipshod research.

If you create your own characters, picture them clearly – what they think and how they speak and act. A high school cheerleader does not talk like a college professor. The words characters use and the way they use them speak volumes about their identity.  Maintain consistency in character development. Posture, facial expressions, quirky behavior, clothes – everything should say, “This is me.”

Restrict

Stay focused. The tighter the time period and circumstances, the greater the intensity of the scenes. Choose powerful moments that communicate your message, whether heavy or light-hearted. Effective drama presents a few compelling scenes with props, dialogue, and body language that convey relevant information. Cut the irrelevant, regardless of how witty your words. Quality trumps quantity.

Refine

Keep the audience hungry. From the opening scene, make people sit up and notice. Offer substantial and moving content throughout. Use active verbs that increase their investment in the action rather than put them to sleep.

If you want a child to express sympathy for a grieving grandmother, don’t let her say, “I’m sorry you’re sad, Nanna.” Instead, let the grandmother’s voice choke on tears. Make the child notice, inch closer, crawl onto Nanna’s lap, hug her, and offer a favorite toy. “Show, don’t tell” applies to most writing, especially drama.

As with all submissions, study the market and adhere to publisher guidelines.

Rehearse

If possible, stage your work and gather feedback prior to publication.  Doing so allows you to discover kinks previously undetected and polish what works well. Better to work out trouble spots beforehand than have editors or performers do so later.

At the least, read your drama aloud, in front of a mirror. Listen and watch for minor flaws that may cause major problems. You will be surprised at the number of needed edits.

Reach Out

When getting started, take advantage of local drama needs. Churches may use drama to introduce sermons, small-group Bible studies, and special events. If you teach a class, write and present a monologue for the lesson.

Offer your services for school productions. Libraries love short plays for children’s groups. Begin where you live and then branch out to the world.

No doubt, each of these steps takes time. Yet, you can make no wiser investment if you want to write drama right.

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. Her adventures as a social worker, adjunct professor, youth Sunday school teacher, and friendship family for international university students supply a constant flow of writing ideas. Visit her at dianaderringer.com.

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Guest Posts

The Biggest Writer’s Block?

I was recently asked in an author interview what was the one bit of advice I think is most important that I would give other potential authors? I said without hesitating, “keep believing in yourself.”

I know from teaching college students how to write their first book that the number one roadblock that stands in their way is the doubt that they can actually write a book that’s worthy of people reading it. They start and don’t finish. Or they finish and never publish it. Or worse yet, they never get started at all, even though they have lots of great stories to tell.

I am editing two books now as part of my book coaching business. For both writers, it is their very first manuscript. The first (let’s call him Joe) is writing a book about his wife who has Alzheimer’s and his journey as her caregiver. It started out more as a non-fiction “how to” book giving advice to people suffering the early stages of the disease and to their family members who care for them, interspersed with anecdotes and stories about his and his wife’s experiences. I read a first draft and told Joe he really should re-write it as a memoir…he had so many moving experiences to share to which I am sure many people can relate—and it is a moving story that even those with no experience with Alzheimer’s would love to read for its messages of hope, faith and love.

Hesitantly he is heeding my advice but feels unsure whether he is a “good enough writer” to actually pull it off. “I know I’m not a good writer for this sort of material,” he said. “Writing it like a memoir or a novel puts me at a great disadvantage with good writers, and also with readers who are used to reading what good writers write.” But the thing is (and I told him this), he IS a good writer, he just needs guidance. He needs to quit comparing himself to others (a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over.) He just needs to cast doubt aside and believe.

The second writer (let’s call him Dave) has had doubts about whether his book is “worthy” of getting published from the start. I have tried to assure him along the way that it definitely is. I read an initial draft, gave him an editor’s report to guide him to re-write it (like I did with Joe) and now he has sent a finished manuscript for editing and proofing. It is a book about how to practice biblical principles in business matters… a very practical guide from which everyone can benefit in my opinion. And yet, Dave is still unsure whether he really should be publishing it, even while it’s in the editing stages.

In one of my college courses a writer (ironically name Faith) broke down crying at one point. I had been encouraging the class to come up with a writing “plan” (ie., a place and time or schedule to write) but told them it was completely up to them, there were no rules. Faith said she was crying with relief…that she always thought she wasn’t a “real” writer if she didn’t write every day but couldn’t because (like many) she has a day job. She was literally crying with relief!

I have known, and you probably have too, how these writers feel when facing the blank page (or computer screen). But if your dream, desire and motivation are all in line with God’s, I believe you can’t fail. Sure, you will probably need help and you will face obstacles along the way…but half the battle is believing in yourself, and the other half is relying on God, knowing since He put the dream on your heart in the first place, He will help you fulfill it, putting the right people and opportunities in your path.

Yes, only you can do the work…but only you can be the one to give up! So, don’t give into fear (False Evidence Appearing Real). Just do it…or in this case, write it!

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

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Guest Posts

Word Play: Priceless Labors of Love by Diana Derringer

Some work we love. Some work we hate. Much work we do as a labor of love.

A labor of love means a job with little or no pay.

Yet we do the work because we enjoy it or want to help someone.

I love to explain unusual English expressions to university students who visit our home or read my blog posts. Nonetheless, serving as teacher, interpreter, and conversation partner requires a tremendous investment of time and energy.

A labor of love pays in pleasure rather than money.

Other labors of love for me include:

  • Cooking
  • Teaching Sunday school
  • Writing

No one pays me to cook.

Most people would not hire me. I cook because my family, friends, and I get hungry. For years I hated the job. My first thought when my husband and I became a friendship family to international students — that’s a lot of cooking. Other potential worries such as having a perfect stranger in our house, struggling with language barriers, or losing our privacy paled in comparison.

God definitely has a sense of humor and knows us so much better than we know ourselves. Some of our best times revolve around grocery shopping, planning menus, and teaching students to cook. Wonders never cease. Perhaps students savor my culinary creations since their alternative is mass-produced cafeteria meals and instant noodles.

Teaching middle-school girls gives me more joy than a paycheck.

Most people do everything they can to avoid that age. Yet, I look forward to time with my girls every Sunday morning. I have known some of them since they were knee high to a grasshopper. Their enthusiasm and passion keep me on my toes.

My pay as a writer probably falls below minimum wage.

Although some assignments pay well, occasionally I write for no pay, if I believe in an organization’s work. Due to life circumstances, I can no longer go on international mission trips. However, I can write radio drama that’s translated into multiple languages and broadcast around the world. Checks dim in comparison to the thrill of reading personal testimonies from people whose lives changed because of a series I wrote.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the checks too and hope they continue to grow. However, regardless of their size and number or the length of my resume, I keep writing. I can’t imagine life without this incredible labor of love.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV)

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. Her adventures as a social worker, adjunct professor, youth Sunday school teacher, and friendship family for international university students supply a constant flow of writing ideas. Visit her at dianaderringer.com.

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Guest Posts

What to Do When You Are Told You Are Not Enough by Whitney Ward

Have you ever been told you are not enough?

For whatever reason and no matter who you hear it from, being told you do not measure up is difficult to hear.

How do I know what it feels like to be told I am not enough? My whole life I have lived with a chronic Primary Immunodeficiency, (PI), called MAGIS Syndrome. Having a PI meant my immune system didn’t work properly. Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio became my home away from home.

There were so many things I would have loved to do and be involved in, but my lack of energy prevented it. The unpredictability that came with my disease caused me to be isolated, lonely, and unqualified. I often felt like people my age were experiencing normal life milestones and my life had just stopped.

I was just not enough.

So, what do you do when you are made to feel you are not enough?

First of all, remember who created you. John 1:3 says that we are all made by God.  In fact, there is not one thing that was not made by Him. When someone makes you feel “less than,” remind yourself God created you and allow your creator to use your story for His glory.

Secondly, when individuals question whether you can accomplish a goal you have set out to obtain, ask yourself this question: “Am I setting goals that fall in line with the passions and talents God has created within me or am I trying to accomplish a goal that is meant for someone else?” It is tough when someone questions our ability, but it may be God’s way of checking our true motives to get us back to what His purpose is for us. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 teaches Christians are a body and we all have a special part God has given us.

No one is the same; we are all unique. Someone else’s goal may seem more impactful than your talents, but remember God knows the exact reason He has given you the part He has and He has already ordained what lives you will touch and minister to because of the dream He has planted in your heart. You may not see the fruits immediately, but keep working for His Kingdom, because God knows the perfect time for your fruit to bloom.

Lastly, if your answer to the above question is yes, you are setting goals that fall in line with the talents God has created within you, then do not dare stop reaching for those dreams no matter what is said to you, or how you are made to feel. Some people may think you are inadequate, but God knows you are more than adequate. Psalm 37:4-5 tells us if we serve the Lord and trust in Him, not only will He give us the desires of our heart, but He will bring them to pass. Not everyone might approve or agree with the path you have chosen, but that is okay as long as you are working towards God’s perfect will and plan for your life.

Remember how I shared there were things I would have loved to do and be involved in, but could not because of my disease?

Guess what?

While I waited, I served the Lord and I trusted Him, He began healing me of my illness and all of those dreams and desires have come to pass. Not only did I graduate from high school, but I have a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. I have gone on six mission trips, and three of them have been overseas. I am a member at my local gym and I work out at least three times a week. I volunteer for a non-profit called the Immune Deficiency Foundation, helping others who have chronic illnesses. I am now a Sunday School teacher, work in Vacation Bible School, and youth camp at my home church. I have seen when God brings something to pass, He goes above and beyond, just as Ephesians 3:20 promises. It has put a drive in me not to just settle for “some” of God’s blessings and good gifts, but to go all out seeking and reaching for all He has to offer.

This is exactly what I encourage you to do as well. People are human, and they may say hurtful things, but remember Who created you. You are not an accident. Determine in your heart you are working towards the calling and mission God has given you. If you are, do not let anyone stop you from achieving EVERYTHING God has for you, because to Him you are not just enough, you are MORE THAN ENOUGH.

Whitney Ward graduated from Asbury University with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and a minor in Journalism. Whitney struggles with a rare lifelong disease. She has shared her journey at various venues, and resides in Rubyville, Ohio, attending Rubyville Community Church, teaching Sunday School to 1st and 2nd graders, and manages the church’s website.

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Guest Posts

Word Play: Life Lessons from One Tough Cookie by Diana Derringer

“Will you please teach me a new slang expression and what it means every day?” Little did I know where that simple request would lead.

As a friendship family to international university students, I became the unofficial interpreter for my husband’s frequent use of slang, idioms, and other unusual expressions. When students asked “How are you,” he responded, “Hunky dory” or “Fit as a fiddle.” When they said, “Goodbye,” he replied, “Toodle-oo.” For them, he often spoke his own foreign language.

A student from Taiwan made her request for slang lessons during one of our daily walks. As we began exploring those often-confusing expressions, an idea slowly formed. Why not combine my writing and international outreach with a hearty dose of fun?

Thus began Words, Wit, and Wisdom: Life Lessons from English Expressions. Once a week I explain a new expression, frequently suggested by a reader. I keep blog posts short, simple, and easy to read.

My primary audience remains people with English as a second language. However, many followers, who speak English as their primary language, enjoy the word play and devotional respite.

The wisdom I find in many expressions applies to the writing life as well. For example, my husband taught me the importance of becoming a tough cookie. The way he handles hard times amazes me.

A tough cookie has often experienced a hard life.

My husband has suffered:

  • A malignant brain tumor (In 2004, he was expected to live three to five years.)
  • A heart attack, stroke, and fall that resulted in a severe brain injury (In 2009, all three happened the same day. He was not expected to live 24 hours.)

As a writer, I dread rejections (or worse, no response at all). However, in the grander scheme of things, those are not a problem. I can revise and submit elsewhere.

A tough cookie is a strong person. 

My husband refuses to give up in spite of health problems. He:

  • Almost never complains
  • Rarely gets discouraged
  • Fears little
  • Refuses to accept defeat

When I grow weary, ready to throw in the towel, I remember God called me to write. I can do this, not in my own strength but in God’s.

A tough cookie decides to make the most of life.

My husband would prefer to be healthy and able to work. However, he chooses not to be a worry wart. Instead, he enjoys what he can.

I also choose whether to make the most of each day, in spite of less-than-ideal circumstances. God can take my life and my circumstances to create opportunities I could never imagine.

A tough cookie is not perfect.

No one is. Life’s not perfect. However, like all of us, my husband has a choice: complain or do the best he can. He says what happened to him is just the way the cookie crumbles. Therefore, he makes the best of life.

Although I organize, set goals, and take notes, life seldom follows my well-laid plans. Like my husband, I learn to cross each day’s bridge as I get to it.

Why not join me? Enjoy and allow God to direct your word play. Remain a tough cookie. Who knows where that may lead or what you may discover?

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11 NIV)

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. Her adventures as a social worker, adjunct professor, youth Sunday school teacher, and friendship family for international university students supply a constant flow of writing ideas. Visit her at dianaderringer.com.

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Guest Posts

How to Use the 4-P’s of Marketing While Waiting for Your Book to be Published by Lauren Crews

I heard a recent statistic. It takes three to eight years to publish a book. For a writer, especially a newbie, that statement can be a deflating. The wait can be challenging, but in the world of building platform, the wait is worth it. There is vital work to be done while waiting to be published.

Gone are the days when we wrote a book and sat back as the “professionals” took over our sales and marketing. Today, publishers require us to work as hard as they do in promoting and selling our book. This can be a daunting task, and if you self-publish, the job becomes even more paramount. So where and when does one begin? It may be helpful to start thinking of yourself and your book in marketing terms-Product, Price, Promotion, and Place and take steps now towards the work of marketing and promotion before you have a book to offer.

  1. Begin Fine-tuning Your Brand Immediately.

Your brand is you not your latest project. Your book may be fabulous, but your branding image is attached to it. Consider this your Product. Fine tune your brand by asking yourself – What is my passion? Does it show? Then, create a brand statement to use in your bio and all your promotional work.

Your brand statement should include:

  • 1-2 Sentence
  • What you do best
  • Who you serve
  • How you do it

For example, my passions are digging deep into Bible study, the Hebrew language and culture and teaching what I learn to others. So, my brand statement is – Introducing Christians to their Hebrew roots.

Stay true to your brand in your blog writing, your online presence, and promotional material. This includes a consistent headshot, use of colors and if possible profile names. Take time developing how you want to be received by the market because their perception moves with you into your next project. Until your book hits the market and becomes a bestseller, you are the visual and the voice of your brand.

  1. What Price are You Willing to Pay?

I’m sure you’ve heard the adage, “You have to spend money to make money” this applies to marketing your brand. These are items you may want to spend money on to begin promoting your brand now.

  • Business cards
  • Bookmark
  • Pens
  • Banners
  • Website
  • Items to leave as giveaways when you speak. I had rubber bracelets made with my hashtag #StrongWomanA2Z. I also splurged and had silver cuff bracelets made with the hashtag, and I use one per speaking engagement as a door prize.

Before being published, be sure the focus of these items is your brand, not the book. This is because the title of your book will likely change – several times. You will want a base of products to use book before during and after the book is out. After you are published, you can always reorder book specific items. Be sure to include your website, a headshot, brand statement and contact information.

  1. Begin Networking Now.

The goal in marketing your brand is to establish yourself as an authority. You want people talking about you in a good way. This is Promotion. Some aspects of networking you can do now are:

  • Post a positive book review for another author and share the link across your social media. You’re promoting someone else, but your name is getting out there.
  • Write a more in-depth book review as your blog post and share it.
  • Be a guest blogger for others.
  • Friend everyone you meet at writer’s conferences.
  • Follow like-minded people on social media and interact with them.
  • If you open your social media profiles to public, remember your “brand” is now out there for everyone to see. Be sure to represent that brand well, and all that you post, share, or retweet reflects your brand.

I’m in year three of the publishing journey, but it has been worth the wait. I started as an unknown in the Christian writing world with a private Facebook page. Networking has been my most significant area of growth. Last year I began applying these strategies to my brand, and in one year my social media following grew by 2,000% (really!). I have a solid foundation of subscribers on my blog, and I’ve guest blogged for others which has put me in front of more than 2,300 additional blog subscribers. My platform would not be considered record-breaking, but I’ve come a long way, and I’m delighted with the growth. You will be pleased when you see tangible results as you update your book proposal.

  1. Hone in on Your Target Market.

Where can you find your target market? Publishers will work to get you in stores, but where else can you focus on sales? This is the Place you will target to find customers. If you’re trying to reach women, they are often involved in home-based businesses like Pampered Chef, Mary Kay or LuLaRoe. These groups often meet in public places for monthly business meetings. Find a sales consultant, find out where they meet and ask if you can speak with them. Offer a copy of your book as a drawing prize through which you have collected their contact info. (Hey, they do it to us at those home gatherings!) Then follow up. Sometimes they will share additional contacts or networks. Other locations you might find your target market are:

  • The Coffee shop
  • Library
  • Trade shows
  • Craft/Farmers markets
  • The Gym
  • The Gun Range
  • City Rotary networking events
  • Rotary club
  • Women’s clubs
  • Men’s clubs
  • Country clubs (golf and tennis)
  • Readings at school, colleges, bookstores, club meetings, scout meetings
  • Can you take advantage of the book’s setting, your character’s interests or hobbies?
  • Where would you find your character?

Once you’ve identified where to find your market, mingle with them. Set up an informational table, leave promotional material, read for them or write for a website that reaches them. Do whatever you can to get your information in front your market.

Marketing starts well before your book is published. I was asked by a publisher at a writing conference, “what do you want in a publisher?” My answer, “I want a publisher who will work as hard as I do and let me show you what I’ve already done.” If you begin to refine these skills early, you will become an asset to your future publisher-one harder to resist.

BIO

As a Bible teacher and speaker, Lauren encourages Christians to explore and understand the Jewish roots of their faith. She lives in north-east Florida with her husband and two chocolate labs. She is mom of three fantastic young adults and recently welcomed a daughter-in-love to the Crews crew. She is represented by Credo Communications and working toward the publication of her books Rethinking the Proverbs 31 Woman: Breaking the Myth and Revealing her Legacy and Jesus: The Alef and the Tav. You can connect with Lauren on the web at www.laurencrews.com.

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Guest Posts

3 Steps to Take You from Stay-at-Home Mom to Stay-at-Home Copywriter By Rachel Schmoyer

My youngest child was almost ready for kindergarten. After being a stay at home mom for ten years, I was ready to think about what I could do to bring in some income for our family. The catch was that I wanted a job that allowed me to be home when my children were home.

I asked my mom friends what they did for income. One friend said she sold product for multi-level marketing company. That wasn’t for me because I didn’t want to be away from the family on evenings and weekends. Another friend suggested babysitting. I didn’t like the sound of that either. I didn’t want to be tied down by someone else’s schedule.

Then one of my friends said she was a copywriter. I had never heard of that job before, but it piqued my interest. I had always received good feedback from my writing in high school and college and I loved writing letters and keeping journals. I asked my friend to tell me more.

First, she loaned me some books so I could familiarize myself with the business of writing. Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets of Freelance Success by Kelly James-Enger defined the terminology that I would need to know. 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide by I.J. Schecter opened my eyes to the writing opportunities all around me. Anywhere there are words, someone was paid to write: cereal boxes, fast-food tray liners, book blurbs, catalog descriptions, etc.

My friend also shared other tips from her own experience.

Here are her top 3 tips which got me started as a copywriter:

  1. Start with who you know. Because it’s hard to get paid for writing without experience, you can gain experience by writing for friends, family, or businesses that you frequent. I started with a local farmer from whom I had been purchasing a weekly share of vegetables for several years. I noticed that he had been trying to write a weekly email letting his customers know what vegetables were in their box, but he was too busy to write consistently. So I approached him with an idea. I asked if I could write a weekly email describing the veggies and giving recipe suggestions to keep his customers engaged in exchange for bread and eggs. To my delight, he took up my offer. I was thankful for the low pressure experience that I could add to my resume later.
  2. Create a website/blog with writing samples. After writing for the farmer for a while, I started to get random ideas for writing about parenting, crafts, or Scripture. So I started a very simple personal blog so I had a place to post these ideas. While creating my blog, I had the nagging thought that I was wasting my time since I wasn’t going to post regularly or put ads on my site, but the blog came in handy for the next step in my copywriting journey!
  3. Don’t be afraid to try something new! One day I overheard another friend talking about how difficult it was to write blog posts about electronic components. I stopped to ask her more. It turned out my friend was working as a social media manager for a digital marketing company. I didn’t know that writing was a part of social media! I blurted out, “That sounds like a fun challenge. I could write about that!” Immediately, I felt my stomach lurch and a cold chill down my spine. What did I just do? Could I really write about electronic components? She told me to send in my resume since they were thinking of hiring a writer. Despite my apprehension, I sent in my resume and the web address to my blog. The boss of the company was attracted to my writing style because of the blog and I was given my first official freelance copywriting job!

It’s been three years since I first heard about copywriting. Now I have enough copywriting to keep me busy for all the time that my children are in school.

If you are interested in becoming a copywriter, think about who you know who could use some writing for their business or organization. It could even been someone’s side hustle. Start a simple, free blog or website with some samples of your writing. WordPress and Blogger are free and easy to use.  Don’t get paralyzed by the fear of the unknown. Pursue copywriting with a teachable spirit and a drive for excellence and, before you know it, you will have clients coming to you.

BIO:

Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s wife, mom of four, and a copywriter. She also helps Christians find the simple truths in the complex parts of the Bible at readthehardparts.com. Her other writings and publishing credits can be found on rachelschmoyerwrites.com.

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Guest Posts

Word Play A Right Smart of Work by Diana C. Derringer

Many people have never heard the expression a right smart. It has nothing to do with how smart a person is. Rather, it means a large amount.

If I own a right smart of something, I own a lot.

I have a right smart of:

  • Cousins (I love them all.)
  • International friends (I love all of them too.)
  • Allergies (I don’t love them and wish they would go away.)

 If I give a right smart, I give a lot:

  • Hugs to people who visit my home
  • Children’s books to new parents
  • Gifts to organizations that help people in need

Writing requires a right smart of work.

  • Research: I must read and meet publishers’ guidelines. That means I stay within the stated word count and offer only the rights the publishers accept. For religious publications, I check denominational taboos and preferred Bible translations. Otherwise, my manuscript ends up in a rejection stack, replaced by ones tailored to the editor’s expectations.
  • Writing and Rewriting: Writing is fun. Rewriting, not so much. When words first flow, I don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, sentence length, or word count. Like floating down a river on a clear summer day, I enjoy the ride. Rewriting means I check my float for leaks, mildew, and unwanted critters on board. Have I left out significant information? Does my grammar and punctuation stink? Have I rid the manuscript of unnecessary words? If I fail to fix my problems, I may not be invited for another ride.

Writing also provides a right smart of rewards.

  • Release: Writing allows a time of respite from the struggles of daily life. Immersed in the process of stringing all those words together, the rest of the world floats away. Respite comes from writing about difficult life experiences as well. Putting the past on paper offers a therapeutic release from the past’s control.
  • Resources: Although few writers become wealthy, pay can be significant. Taking those checks to the bank or seeing amounts appear on account statements provides both financial and emotional pick-me-ups.
  • Recognition: I might as well admit it. I like to see my name in print. I know God supplies every gift, and God deserves all credit. Nevertheless, an occasional pat on the back feels good.
  • Reminder: I enjoy the privilege of giving others a bit of spiritual insight, a nugget of truth, a moment of laughter, joy for their journey, a reminder they’re not alone in this often lonely world.

A right smart of work yields a right smart of rewards.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).

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. Her adventures as a social worker, adjunct professor, youth Sunday school teacher, and friendship family for international university students supply a constant flow of writing ideas. Visit her at dianaderringer.com.

 

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Guest Posts

Using Ancestors’ Stories in Fiction By Ora Smith

Just how far back into your past can you reach to find new ideas for writing? Family history (genealogy) is the second most popular hobby in America, making it easy to find information online. Have you ever considered using stories or unusual events that happened in your ancestors’ lives in your novel? As writers, we must always be willing to look for new and creative concepts. When writing fiction about ancestors, you can balance facts with imagination.

Learning about your ancestors can be a treasure trove for character building, plotting, settings, and so much more. One of the most famous examples of an author using his progenitors in a novel would be Alex Haley when he wrote Roots. But did you know Nathaniel Hawthorne loosely based The Scarlet Letter on his strict Puritan ancestors? Or that Emily Bronte in the gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, based the unusual and imbalanced character of Heathcliff from an ancestor?

Our ancestors’ stories often hold potential for great plot lines. You can write their stories as historical fiction, or bring their experiences forward into contemporary times or even the future. It’s possible the struggles your progenitors experienced on the Oregon Trail or settling a new land may be the very same experiences a colony in space may come up against. If you’re an American, then its more than likely you have immigrant ancestors. Often their stories are full of learning, strife, hate, fear, and misunderstandings from both the country they left and the one they settled. Assimilation is usually not easy. Finding the motivation behind these issues might be where a story lies.

You can find ideas on how to create well-rounded and interesting characters from people in your family tree. Experiences, hardships, and relationships make us different from one another. Rarely are people all-good or all-evil. Create fully dimensional villains by thinking of the worst person in your family then round them out with at least one redeeming quality. People are always more complex than they seem, as your characters should be. From one of my ancestors I formed a character who steals from his mother, lies without hesitation, has alcohol and drug abuse issues, and has spent time in prison for crimes you shouldn’t speak of in polite society. Yet, he’s partially redeemed by his sensitivity and the memories of his family he holds close to his heart.

People’s life experiences shape them. Find out social, economic, religious, and political backgrounds. Did they grow up in a big family, or were they an only child? How much education did they receive and was it traditional? Were they illiterate? Did they love the earth and farm the land? Did the family carry traits from their homeland brought to the country of immigration? Did their name spelling change? Did they have to learn a new language?

Interviewing the oldest living relatives in your family is a good place to start. Ask what they remember about their parents and grandparents. Writing about family members means researching clues to figure out what kind of life they led, who they loved, how they loved, and what they did with their lives.

To find your ancestors, you could use family history websites such as ancestry.com, chroniclingamerica.com, cyndislist.com, and archives.com. Some of these websites can help you track down living descendants of your ancestor’s siblings. It’s a great way to find photos because people usually didn’t keep their own portraits, but gave them away to family members. A face is worth a thousand words—let your imagination go wild and write those thousand words from your ancestor’s likeness.

Old census records can be valuable information for how many were in a family and what their occupations were. And it’s amazing what can be found in a courthouse. They hold records of births, marriages, deaths, and so much more. Court records can help you find drama about relatives who were criminals, but also those who were victims. Land records could demonstrate an ancestor’s lifestyle and wealth. Perhaps they didn’t own land, but instead followed the migration to uncharted territories of the Wild West.

Researching and writing about your ancestors can help you come to respect them for who they were and the paths they chose. In knowing who your ancestors were and writing about them, you can shed light on their adversities giving their experiences significance and perhaps new insight. Transform them into characters that suit the needs of your story. You could even write yourself as a fictional character searching for his or her past and unlocking family secrets. Don’t forget to leave room for your imagination to take your readers to new and interesting places.

Bio

For more than twenty years Ora Smith has taught family history classes at conferences and given individual instruction. She received her Master of Arts in Nonfiction Creative Writing at Wilkes University. She also writes fiction and recently won the 2017 Phoenix Rattlers contest for historical fiction. You can connect with her through her blog Writing About Ancestors, Facebook, Twitter

 

Categories
Guest Posts

Sometimes the right road isn’t even on the map by David Rawlings

All roads to the finding an agent and the dream of publishing led through the Conference.

I’d planned, scraped together the money to fly to Nashville (which was significant from Australia, and required some divine help to pull together!) and cleared the calendar.  I had to recover from a 12-hour jet lag in a day-and-a-half, but I was going to make it work.

I had no publisher, no agent and no profile. I was going along as a Genesis finalist – which helped with visibility – but I needed to work hard to make sure I made the most of it. At the Conference I took every opportunity to grab every conversation and lead I could.  I speed-dated a handful of agents and publishers, grabbed snatched pitches while waiting for sessions, and trotted out my elevator pitch that I’d practiced for 13 hours in the air, in between turbulence and in-flight catering.

As I sat in Nashville International Airport on my way home, I was buoyed that there were requests for my manuscript.  I was on the right road to being published. I now had a map to follow with the roads clearly marked – four agents were interested, as well as a publisher.  One of those roads would lead me to the Holy Grail of seeing my book on the shelf. Surely.

When I got back home, I emailed one agent, who politely turned down my manuscript while suggesting I write another. So I embarked on manuscript number two.

Two more agents said no. The other agent just didn’t get back to me.

Then a thought loomed large: how was I going to get published if all the roads to get there were slowly blocked off?

The initial agent – who thought I could write but thought a different story would suit – then turned that story down. Another road closed.

Then the publisher, my final avenue, got back to me. They liked the story and were ready to make a decision on it, when other business conditions shut the whole conversation down.  They declined.

So how do you get to a destination without a road to get there?  I felt like I’d already been on a massive journey (which technically I had), but hadn’t left the driveway.

Sometimes the best road isn’t on the map (and I’m not just talking about Apple Maps). You see, I’d worked hard in Nashville to map out my journey to my destination, but I also did something else. Something that I thought was just something small that wouldn’t lead anywhere particularly. Something almost insignificant.

I’d sent a Facebook message after the Conference. My manuscript didn’t win a Genesis Award, and as I was sitting there at the Gala, shrugging off the uncomfortable heavy cloak of the loser, James L Rubart made a speech that I really needed to hear at the time. He talked about not being validated through our writing or by winning awards, but that we were validated anyway.

So after the Conference, I shot off a message to Jim, thanking him for his words and not really expecting an answer.  After all, I’m an unknown Aussie flying back across the globe crammed into cattle class and he’s an award-winning, best-selling author.

But Jim did respond, and he asked me a question for which I’ll be forever grateful. He asked “How are things now?”  That question lead to a conversation, which opened a discussion about mentoring and I’ve been working with him since.

We’ve talked about platform and publishing, and he provided invaluable knowledge – and contacts. Another road opened up. One that wasn’t on my map.

I approached another batch of agents with Jim’s belief and backing with now not one, but two manuscripts.  Several months later, one of those agents—Steve Laube—asked to represent me and now I have the privilege of working with him. He’s now on the road with me.

This road didn’t appear on my map and the journey didn’t go as I planned, that’s for sure. But instead of sitting back and saying “oh well, it was meant to be,” what’s the lesson here?

I think of it this way: every little thing counts. I wouldn’t have worked with Jim had I not sent him that message, and Jim’s endorsement of me to agents wouldn’t have happened either.

And sometimes the road to get you somewhere doesn’t appear on your map, instead opening up in ways you could never imagine.

Bio

Based in Adelaide, South Australia, David Rawlings is a sports-mad father-of-three with his own copywriting business who reads everything within an arm’s reach.  A qualified journalist and corporate copywriter, he can spot a typo from across a crowded room and always makes sure his text messages are grammatically correct.

Over 25+ years, he has made writing his career and paid the bills with words, developing from sports journalism to corporate communication.  Now he has shifted to fiction, finaled in the ACFW’s Genesis competitions and the OCW’s Cascade Awards, as is working with the Steve Laube Agency to find that elusive publisher.

Categories
Guest Posts

Finish the Work! By Carol Sparks

You never would have thought of such a thing on your own. It had to be God. He gave you an idea for a novel, short story, poem, or non-fiction book. You looked around, but you were the only one with that stunned look on your face and that peculiar-to-writers gleam in your eye.

Maybe you jumped right in with both feet, excited for a new project. Maybe you dipped the tip of your big toe into the idea of writing this particular thing and drew back as the deluge of information began roaring toward you. I agree; it’s overwhelming at first.

You worked on this new project for a while…until the luster wore off, until your life got busier for some reason, or until you began to question the initial impetus. Oh, it had seemed like such a good idea, but then the doubts and distractions arose.

  • Do you have adequate experience or education to write this sort of thing?
  • Don’t you have other responsibilities that are more important?
  • When are you supposed to find time to write something this challenging?
  • Since you can’t make it perfect, why even bother to write it at all?
  • Where will you find the resources to do the necessary research?
  • Isn’t someone else better qualified to write it?
  • Aren’t you too old/young/fat/skinny/rich/poor to write something like this?
  • Haven’t you been rejected by all those agents and publishers already?
  • How would you possibly get it published in today’s climate?
  • Who’s going to read it anyway?

I’ve said all these to myself. Your particular doubt may sound a little different, but it’s no less effective.

About twenty-five years after Jesus’ ascension, the small band of believers in Jerusalem faced big trouble. They were persecuted and oppressed in every way, and they were completely out of money. Things were desperate.

The apostle Paul responded out of the depth of his relationships. He called upon fledgling churches throughout the region to help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. The Corinthian church was among the first to raise their hands. They were generous and sincerely desired to help. But even into the next year, they hadn’t finished taking up their collection (2 Corinthians 8:10). I wonder why.

  • Maybe they felt inadequate, thinking they set their goal too high.
  • Maybe they got distracted by other responsibilities and problems.
  • Maybe, because they hadn’t heard anything recently, they thought the situation in Jerusalem was better now.
  • Maybe they just forgot after Titus left.

Things happen—to New Testament churches and to modern-day writers. And sometimes we need a “swift kick in the rump,” as we say here in East Tennessee. Paul generously provided that figurative kick to the Corinthians, but his words apply just as well to us writers.

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.  -2 Corinthians 8:11 NIV

 Paul goes on to remind his readers that it’s not about how much you give but your willingness to give (2 Cor 8:12). God will make it sufficient. “Your plenty,” Paul says, “will supply what they need” (2 Cor 8:14).

Do you need a “swift kick” to complete the task God has given you? Now is the time; finish the work! Match your earlier eagerness with a completed composition. God will use it to supply exactly what your future readers need.

What Bible verse or quote helps you stick to your writing goals? Please encourage us all by sharing in the comments below!

Bio.

Author Carole Sparks sometimes does “butt kickers” in her workouts because she needs a swift kick in the backside, and she’d prefer to administer it herself. Afterward, she’ll go finish at least one writing project, hopefully! If she’s not working out, you can probably catch up with her on Twitter or her blog.