Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Of Humble Pie and Closets

Navigating the publishing world can be a humbling experience. We write a piece that we think is going to take the world by storm. We edit and refine it and then submit it.

We wait. We get a rejection. Or an editor rips it to shreds.

Big slice of humble pie, anyone?

Meeting industry professionals can be an intimidating and humbling experience as well. I must say that the agents and editors I have met are nice, down-to-earth people, but I still get nervous when I meet them. That was especially the case the first time I had an appointment with an agent at a writers conference.

It was my initial visit to Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, NC. If you’ve never been to BRMCWC, register NOW. It’s like Disney World for aspiring Christian writers.

If you have ever met me, you know I’m one of the most outgoing people on the planet. I love people and will talk to anyone or anything, even a tree, and I love to laugh. However, I walked into the registration area at that first BRMCWC, looked at all the people and wondered “What am I doing here?”

When it came time for that first appointment, I was fidgety and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was understandably excited and nervous about meeting a real-live, big-time agent. I prayed and felt God telling me in my spirit, “be yourself.” I sat down, handed the agent my card and introduced myself.

We had an easy rapport, and the 15-minutes seemed to fly by. He requested I send him a proposal and agreed to keep in touch. I was on Cloud Nine.

I got up and turned around to leave. That year at Blue Ridge the appointments were held in a big room near the cafeteria, and there was a wall of doors, with only one leading to the hallway. I chose a door and walked out of the meeting area . . . into a closet filled with tables.

I’m not sure how many people noticed my faux pas, because I was too embarrassed to turn around. I backed out of the closet, found the real exit door, and took off as fast as I could.

I think God allows embarrassing things like this one to remind me to not take myself too seriously. Writing and publishing are serious endeavors, but ultimately God is in control. If I keep myself humble, I’ll remember that and won’t let the rejections and the criticisms get to me.

Get yourself to BRMCWC—they have nice closets.

[bctt tweet=”Get yourself to BRMCWC—they have nice closets. #BRMCWC #authors” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Big slice of humble pie, anyone? #BRMCWC #writer” via=”no”]

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Writers are Bad to the Bone

Photo by Pierre Lognoul permitted for reuse.

If you have flown then I imagine you know the feeling. You sit down in your assigned seat and the seat next to you is empty. You then look forward at the stream of passengers working their way to you. Immediately you access their size and hygiene, then you look deep into their eyes. Somehow five to seven rows before yours their eyes will give them away. In my case I see their eyes saying “oh no I have to sit by him.”

A few weeks ago I was in that situation, I saw one of the biggest men I have ever seen and hoped he was not assigned seat 17B. His eyes told me he was.

So next to me sits this mountain of a man. Tall, bowed up, covered in tattoos. Tattoos that said this guy was bad to the bone.

He easily engaged in conversation, as a pastor I can’t let my seat neighbor sit in silence. The conversation immediately went to where he was headed. He was going to a dangerous part of the Middle East to drill for oil. When I suggested that sounded dangerous, he told me about his last job in the jungle where armed guards protected him around the clock. He said it was common to hear of a national being slaughtered by a bush knife. Then to top the machete murders he shared about his time in the Special Forces.

It was somewhere in his second Iraq tour when I began to panic. Knowing he would soon ask where I was headed. In light of his manly stories I dreaded saying I was headed to a writer’s conference. I knew my story would conjure up the intense dangers of paper cuts so I thought about making up something more exciting.

He did ask, and even as I sheepishly told him where I was headed — I knew he couldn’t hang in my world. Because writers are “B-B-B-B-Bad”.

My kids will have a bumper sticker that says, [bctt tweet=”“My Dad can beat up your Dad, because my Dad is an author.””]

Writing is hard work.

When I began working on my first book, I took a week’s vacation. I planned to finish my book in six days 5:30 am until Starbucks closed. At 9:41 pm on the fourth day while finally beginning chapter two, I said to myself, “Writing is ridiculous.” So I Googled “encouragement for authors”, and I found an article that spoke truth into me. In a different phrase not suitable for a column entitled The Ministry of Writing, it said, “Authors are bad to the bone.” It continued, “Regardless if a book gets published if someone finishes a book they are one of the Baddest (Butt) people in the world.”

I smiled and got back to work.

That was two years ago. Those two chapters would get revised over thirty times. Then they were thrown in the thrash when agents encouraged me to go in another direction, which I gladly did because [bctt tweet=”I am a writer and I am BAD TO THE BONE.”]

Categories
Storyworld

Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy: Alien Nature

Atheists believe all creatures evolved over countless millennia of bloodshed, allowing only the fittest members of a species to breed. They therefore imagine all sentient life with the same violent nature as humanity, and the same basic need for governance.

But the writer of Christian science fiction and fantasy has a unique perspective on mankind, and therefore also a unique way to imagine inhuman races. That comes from a biblical understanding of the nature of man.

But the first question the Christian needs to ask when writing a work of Christian science fiction or fantasy is this: Does your world even take place in our universe? If so, you have to take certain things into account. Specifically …

[bctt tweet=”Does your world even take place in our universe? #storyworld #scifi #fantasy” via=”no”]

God is in charge and has a purpose

If the God we know from the Bible exists in your fiction, then we know certain things are true. Specifically: God created man intentionally (not accidentally) to have a relationship with him, man rebelled against God, and God allows man to be forgiven.

Understanding these fundamental aspects of humanity will guide you when writing about non-humans in a biblical universe. Why? Because although God gave all creatures a purpose, an alien’s purpose may be very different from our own. Maybe God didn’t create the space-fairies to worship him, but to punish humanity. Scary thought, but it wouldn’t be unprecedented based on the way He used Cyrus in Isaiah’s prophecies.

God so loved [humans] that he gave his only begotten son

Sin and redemption are so intrinsic to humanity that we forget that mankind may be unique in this regard. But have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? Perhaps they had a test like the one in Eden but passed. Obviously their relationship with the Lord would look very different. A great pair of novels that deal with this theoretical issue are Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, both Christian science fiction novels by C.S. Lewis.

[bctt tweet=”have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? #storyworld #scifi” via=”no”]

Even if aliens did fall from grace, redemption may look different. God chose a very awesome way to reconcile man to himself, but a different method could be employed to bring otherworldly people to himself. For example, Ted Dekker’s Circle series (Quadrilogy?) had an unusual redemption story for the characters in his alternate reality/ future/ past/ whatever it was.

A sad possibility is that there is no hope for redemption for an alien race. It sounds cruel, but we know of one sentient alien species in our own reality that has fallen members with no hope for salvation. No, not the Rock People from the Noah Movie. Sigh. Angels and Demons. Angels were created for purposes similar to man’s (worshipping God), but somewhere along the line, a third of the angels rebelled against God (just like Adam rebelled). To our knowledge though, their species has not been offered forgiveness. The mercy He grants humanity gives us a unique and humbling position.

 

Before I completely overwhelm you, not all sci-fi and fantasy needs to have aliens or other species. Examples: The Battletech series by Michael A. Stackpole and others, Joss Whedon’s Firefly (ok it’s a TV show, not a book), and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation. But if you’re writing Christian science fiction in our biblical universe and describing fictitious species , you’ll need to consider which aspects of man’s story are unique and which aren’t. Maybe heaven in your book will contain many different species, or maybe not. You don’t have to describe this heavenly display, but you should keep it in mind as an end-goal for your protagonists. At any rate, God’s eternal plan is of supreme importance in human lives, so it at least bears consideration for nonhumans. And a better understanding of humanity’s own (possibly) unique story will help you craft your own.

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

5 Pieces of Advice for Teen Writers by Former Teen Author

Whenever someone asks if I have advice for teen writers, I tell them three things: Read, research, and write.

Read as many books as you can get your hands on.

Research the craft and industry.

And write every chance you get.

[bctt tweet=”#TeenWriter advice: Read. Research. And Write. #amwriting #teenwriters @tessaemilyhall”]

Here are 5 more pieces of advice for teen writers:

1. Attend writing conferences.

Writing conferences provide the perfect opportunity to learn about writing, network with writers, and pitch your book to professionals.

2. Study the craft.

If you want to come across as a professional, then writing must be treated like any other career. This means many hours should be invested into learning the craft.

You can do this by reading books on fiction techniques (such as Writing The Breakout Novel) and reading writing-craft blogs (such as Go Teen Writers).

3. Start a blog.

I’m very grateful I began my blog, Christ is Write, at the beginning of my writing journey. It served as a great way for me to meet other teen writers, practice my writing, and discipline myself. I was also able to build a readership even before my YA novel was published.

4. Spark your creativity through writing prompts.

Not only do writing prompts expand the imagination, but they may also trigger a new scene or book idea.

Want to participate in a writing prompt challenge and meet other teen writers? Check out my bi-monthly writing prompt contest.

5. Enter your work into contests and publish it online.

There are plenty of contests for teen writers that can help your work get noticed. You can also publish your writing on websites dedicated toward teen writers, such as Teen Ink.

Seeking more advice for teen writers? Check out these posts I’ve written just for you.

Have any advice for teen writers? Share them in the comments!

[bctt tweet=”Advice for Teen Writers by Former Teen Author @tessaemilyhall #teenwriters #amwriting #teenauthors”]

Categories
The Binge Writer

5 Tips on How to Write Faster (With Bonus)

Do you want to write 30K-40K+ words in a weekend? Do you want to write faster?

You can. Become a binge writer.

Binge writing is an impassioned writing session during an elongated time period. It can last from five hours to fifty hours. A binge writing session is uninterrupted—apart from limited sleep.

[bctt tweet=”Do you want to write faster? #1K1H #writer #novelist”]

Many writers spend years attempting to finish their stories, but they never do. Not for lack of desire, but for lack of follow-through. I know from firsthand experience that if I tried to write 2,000 words every day I’d fail. I already have, multiple times. But, if I set aside time to binge write, I can complete project after project.

It’s time for you to become a binge writer.

[bctt tweet=”It’s time for you to become a binge writer. #writer #writing #writingtips”]

The results will astound you. I bet an extra 40K words might help you finish the final few chapters or your novel, or help you create an entire series of chapter books. The uses are endless.

But if you never embark on your binge writing journey, you may never accomplish your writing goals in a realistic timeframe, unless you learn to write faster.

Here are some binge writing tips:

  1. Cram your brain.
    1. Fill your mind with pictures, ideas, and research on the topic you are writing about. If you are writing a novel set in Paris, inundate yourself with French music in your car, watch French foreign movies or documentaries, and visualize the world around you as Paris itself.
    2. If you are writing a non-fiction about training dogs, spend time with dogs. Train them, observe them, and watch movies with dogs as characters.
    3. Let your mind absorb the images, actions, and ideas that you want to flow effortlessly out of you and into your story or book.
  2. Schedule your binge session.
    1. Pick your time and place. Don’t let anyone infringe upon your session and don’t make plans close to the start and finish of your time. You’ll only be able to binge write, if you hold fast and firm to your timetable. So when your brother-in-law calls to invite you to dinner and board games, you say NO even though you really want to go. You make a date with yourself.
  3. Set the mood.
    1. Before your session download music that will stimulate the proper mood for your writing. Epic soundtracks for fantasy, love songs for romance, etc. Have them preloaded and ready to go.
    2. If you like the lighting low for romance or suspense. Get your candles ready.
    3. If you are writing a story in a bakery, plan to have fresh bread baking in your house. Or, if your story is set in a field of flowers have scented candles or oils to help create the right aroma and atmosphere.

    [bctt tweet=”It’s not called binge editing—It’s binge writing, so write. #write #writing #1K1H”]

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour Stop – Katy Kauffman

[author title=”Katy Kauffman” image=”http://www.almostanauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Headshot_Katy-Kauffman.jpg”]Katy Kauffman is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. Her heart’s desire is for people to know and love God, understand the richness of His Word, and fulfill His plan for their lives. She graduated from Luther Rice Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, and she makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia.[/author]

What is the title of your latest book?

Faith, Courage, and Victory: The Stories, Struggles, and Triumphs of 24 Characters of the Bible

Tell us more about your book:

Scripture is filled with the stories of real people who became overcomers. They faced struggles, trials, and temptations. They battled fear, doubt, and formidable enemies. But their faith in God gave them the courage to do His will. Their stories give us timeless truths that help us to face our own spiritual battles and win.

Do you need to overcome personal doubts? See how God answered each of Moses’ doubts and questions, and helped him to stand before Pharaoh and to lead Israel out of captivity. Are you harassed by spiritual enemies? Implement Nehemiah’s strategies for victory, which enabled him to continue God’s work in spite of distractions. Is fear keeping you from doing what God has called you to do? Let Esther’s selfless courage and Deborah’s confident courage inspire you to do God’s will.

This Bible study capsulizes the stories of twenty-four characters of the Bible, from Abraham, the father of faith, to Paul, the great contender of the faith. Forty devotions include practical principles, moving stories, thought-provoking questions, and prayers to personalize the truths of Scripture. A leader guide is provided for using this book as a nine-week group study.

Why do you write what you do?

I care about people’s spiritual battles, and the Word of God has helped me to handle my own struggles. If I can share anything I’ve learned from God’s Word and life experiences, I want to. My desire is that believers remember that God is with them in life’s battles and that He helps us to win. He has given us the resources we need to be overcomers and the principles to have strength, victory, and joy in this life.

What are you currently working on?

I have been blogging to promote my book, but I am also starting my third Bible study which will be on the book of Nehemiah. It will talk about how to build strength and joy into the people of God. It will follow the devotional format of my other books and have a leader guide to be used as a small group study.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?

I wanted to write a Bible study that women can read even if they have busy schedules. So I have divided my books into devotions, and each devotion takes about 5-10 minutes to read and answer the questions. Each one is like a mini quiet time with Scripture, application, questions, and a prayer. So women can be in God’s Word on a deeper level even if their schedules are busy.

How does your writing process work?

It beings with taking time to study Scripture with good resources and a lot of prayer. Then I see what the theme of a book of the Bible is or what application can be seen from a particular Bible story. Everything in one of my books fits into the overarching theme, and every devotion shows a particular aspect of that theme. There’s a lot of editing, researching modern stories or illustrations related to what I’m writing about, and donut eating. Must eat donuts. They are good brain food. One thing I can’t do without is God’s guidance and wisdom. Another is the prayers from family and friends as I write.

You can find Katy Kauffman online at:

https://www.facebook.com/KatyKauffmanAuthor
https://twitter.com/KatyKauffman28
https://www.pinterest.com/katykauffman/
https://plus.google.com/+KatyKauffman28

 You can buy Katy’s book at:

Categories
Publicity

Creating Free Graphics or Memes for Authors

Graphics or memes have become an easy way to make any subject matter or content viral. What are they? Simply they are an image overlaid with text that engages people to learn more or to share them. As an author you want to have these in your arsenal. Facebook photos have an 87% interaction rate!

Think about this. When you are scrolling through your social media feeds don’t you take a moment to read the writing on the images even if you don’t mean to? Simply put, humans are visual creatures. The Facebook graphic is one tool that will be useful for a long time to come.

With Facebook’s news feed restrictions the graphic or meme is one way that you can get creative and get around the diminished page views. Photos are not part of the promotional restriction nor are blog content posts since the algorithm cannot read the writing on the images. What does this mean for the author market? This is an excellent way to expand your reader base and get your content seen.pics

That said, as an author who may not have the resources to hire a design team to build some great graphics how are
you to compete? There are several free websites that cater to photo design software intended for use for these type of products. Today I will be talking about two of these products that I use nearly every day.

First there is Picmonkey.com. Picmonkey is a simple and easy to use website that can allow you to make graphics with very few limits on what you can do. This is the first I recommend learning for authors that want to be able to be as creative as they would like. Here are some of the pros and cons of this specific website.

[one_half]

Pros:

  • Free version
  • Allows editing of any kind of image
  • Automatically gives dimensions for project based on style of project.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

Cons:

  • You provide the images
  • Very limited designs for premade items
  • Learning curve

[/one_half_last]

Canva1

Second there is Canva.com. This site is visually stunning and has many more options than Picmonkey. This site gives you previews of how you can set up your images to look and then allows you to change nearly any element in it. They also have stock images with licensing for $1 each. (This is definitely better than some of the sites out there like Shutterstock.) Even the free elements are top quality and crisp.

 

[one_half]

Pros:

  • Free image options
  • Previews of how it can look
  • High quality output and sizing for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google +

[/one_half][one_half_last]

Cons:

  • More of a learning curve
  • Cannot embed an image overtop of another image

[/one_half_last]

Here are some examples from each site for you to get the feel of what the sites are capable of. If you are not interested in creating your own graphics there are many people willing to do this for nominal fees. You are welcome to contact me and I will put you in contact with a match for your budget and content. Click on the images to see them full size.

[bctt tweet=”Create top quality author Facebook memes with these tips. #AuthorRT #MarketingYourBook”]

Categories
Touching Soul and Spirit

Words, Tomato Plants and Time with Jesus

The fruit of any writer is words, alphabetic compilations skillfully woven together into sentences and paragraphs that may eventually become an article, a story, or a book. Those words have the power to change lives. For most writers, those words that become sentences and paragraphs come rather easily. They are the currency of our craft —the artistic building blocks of our calling. A writer without words is a tragic paradox.

Therefore if words are so important, and have such power, it stands to reason that we, as writers, must take special care of our heart and our mind—the expressions of our spirit and our soul, because in those places this precious fruit is produced. A better quality of fruit always produces a higher level of impact.

Several years ago, I decided to do a little farming by planting some tomato plants. Nothing tastes better than a large, succulent home-grown tomato. I labored to build the beds and filled them with a mixture of dirt, compost, and horse manure. Next I placed the plants in the soil and began watering and fertilizing them with Miracle Grow on a consistent basis. Over time those plants grew into luscious bushes with beautiful blooms. I had gigantic plants but the tomatoes were few and far between. The same thing happened for three straight years. Discouraged, I was ready to give up on growing my own, and almost reconciled to a future of eating those plastic-tasting, pale pink variety you find at any local grocery.

Then I met a tomato expert at a botanical garden plant sale. I explained my dilemma and he asked a simple question, “How many hours of sun are your plants getting?” It seems tomato plants need a minimum of six hours of sunshine to produce large heathy fruit. A multitude of vines and no fruit are the classic symptoms of under exposure to the sun. My tomato plants needed something more than I was personally capable of providing.

As Christian writers, we don’t simply need more words. We need powerful words to convey concepts, ideas, and phrases that bring transformation. The power I’m taking about comes from having an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. Like tomato plants, every writer who longs to produce genuine, lasting fruit needs time with the Son—Jesus Christ. Yes, it is vitally important that we hone our craft by reading widely, studying grammar and structure, and researching our subject with intensity. Yes, we must write, meet the deadlines before us, and build our platform on social media. Yes, it is true there are only so many hours in the day. But if we neglect our spirit and our soul, our words, though lush and plentiful, will be powerless and the fruit of our labor almost non-existent.

Take a few minutes today and spend some time in the glorious presence of Jesus. A moment in his presence may produce the fruitful word or phrase that could change a life forever. But one thing’s for sure, time spent with Jesus will change you, and if you are changed, the fruit of your words will reflect it.

Categories
Child's Craft

From Story to Book Part I

So you have this fabulous idea of a story for children. You’ve told bedtime stories to your children every night from this one story idea and they’ve loved it! It could sell millions of copies! You may never have to work again but will live off the royalties from your story idea.

The only problem is… ideas don’t sell. Books sell.

Let’s look at some things to consider as you begin moving your idea from story to book form.

For what age group do you wish to write? When you pitch to a publishing house, you shouldn’t say your book is for newborns up through young adults. Twelve year-olds don’t generally enjoy the same book as their two-year-old siblings. So, narrow your range. Here are some acceptable age brackets:

0-2 newborn – concept books

2-4 toddlers – board books

5-8 picture books

7-10 chapter books

9-12 tween books

13+ young adult

While these ages may vary a year either way between publishing houses, check the Writer’s Market book for the publishers you wish to submit to and market to one of their stated age ranges. Keep these ages in mind as your write.

Which point of view do you wish to use? Do you want the child to tell the story? This would be first person. If you use this, you can only write what the child would feel, see, think, and experience. The pronouns used would be I, my, me, we.

Do you want to write from a parent’s point of view or have a narrator tell the story? This is third person. Limited third person is when the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of one person. Omniscient third person is when the narrator gets inside each of the characters’ heads. Omniscient can be confusing for young children, so generally stick to a point of view from one person. The pronouns would be he, she, they. Figure out which POV you wish to use and stick with it.

Next, get writing! Don’t let your head get in your way by editing at this point. Just let the words flow and pare it down later. Write as if the story is ready to burst out of your head onto the page. Let it flow. Let it flow. Don’t hold it back anymore… (That should be a song.) We’ll look at editing and perfecting your story in future blogs. For now, pick an age group and point of view and write! Oh, and have fun. Play with it. Crafts should be fun!

[bctt tweet=”The only problem is… ideas don’t sell. Books sell. #picturebook #kidlit” via=”no”]

Categories
Truth Be Told

Your Mess May Be Your Message

Shame is an incredible de-motivator.

Shame whispers questions and breathes doubt into our hearts and minds, stifling our creativity and limiting what God wants to say through us to others.

Truth be told: I know this because this demon did a nasty number on me for several years.

Thankfully, I’ve done some major work on my thinking in this area and God has lavished his balm of grace to my heart and mind. Still, it is a weak spot the enemy likes to attack.

When he does I have two tools to remind me he doesn’t get to win.

First, is a little picture I keep on my desk as a constant reminder. It was a gift from a seminary professor many years ago.

The brown tape spots in the corners might bother some people, but they remind me how it has reminded me in different places and times over the years.

I found the other reminder while writing a book about the Prodigal Family. The Christian faith is full of people who understand the battle with shame. And the Book we revere, the Bible, tells their stories.

The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember………..

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer

…AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now, no more excuses.
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren’t the message,
You are just the messenger.

I wish I knew who wrote this. I would like to thank them.

There are many ways to use the ugly, shame-filled parts of our lives to bring healing and redemption.

You mess may be your message. Will you be the messenger?

[bctt tweet=”Shame is an incredible de-motivator. #writer #novel” via=”no”]

Categories
Polishing Your Message

“Hi Their” – First Impressions

“Hi Their [sic]” were the two words I read. “Bye There!” was the instant reply in my head.

Really? Someone sent “Hi Their [sic]” popping onto my screen?

Only two words had travelled from his electronic dating profile to mine.  It took one second for them to occupy their chat box space, and it took two seconds for me to decide his fate.

Continue reading ““Hi Their” – First Impressions”
Categories
Editing

Be a Reader First

Read, Writer

One of the key ingredients you should look for when hiring an editor is a love of reading.

I don’t think there’s an editor who said, “I think I’ll become an editor because I hate to read.” If they did, then I wouldn’t recommend hiring them to assist you with your writing project. That would be like hiring a book burner to run the local library. It’d be a lost cause.

Before I decided to write or edit, I was an avid reader. I have been – ever since my babysitter read The Saggy Baggy Elephant and The Little Engine That Could over and over, to my delight.

By the time I was in kindergarten, Ramona Quimby was my favorite character. When I got hold of Judy Blume and met Fudge and Peter, I couldn’t put her books down. In high school, I loved Holden Caulfield’s discontent, I hated how Lenny killed everything he touched, and I grimaced with amazement as Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack experienced unsupervised life on the island in Lord of the Flies. By then, I’d also discovered books I shouldn’t be reading, like Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children series.

When I left college, Anne Rice and Lestat, I’d developed a relationship with Jesus. I then married and began having children, so my reading preferences switched to the world of non-fiction, mostly under the parenting and marriage topics.

Until Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, and Jacob Black showed up. I resisted the vampire, knowing that’s where I’d left my reading when I became a Christian. But when my Christian friends kept raving about the story, I decided to give it a shot. I’ve never read an entire series so quickly in my life. I’m a processer. A slow reader. I take in the details and go back to reread for clarity when I need to. I read all four books in the Twilight series in nine days. Bad writing. Good writing. Whatever. Stephenie Meyer immersed me in a vivid fictional dream.

Since then, Steven James has kept me dreaming through Patrick Bowers’ life. I’ve also enjoyed numerous books by DiAnn Mills and Lynette Eason, among others.

I read across genres. Suspense, Romance, Contemporary. Sci-fi, Fantasy, Dystopian. I love YA. And I still read non-fiction, but my topics have broadened.

Because if you’re going to be a writer, there’s so much to learn from reading others’ work. What works. What doesn’t. What you enjoy about each book. And what you hate about it. Which rules you can get away with breaking and when. As well as which rules should always be followed.

And as an editor, I’m a reader first. Always.

There have been countless times I’ve grabbed a self-published novel and known from page one I was going to be too distracted by the errors in spelling and punctuation to ever make it into the story itself. There have also been times I’ve wished I could edit the best-seller and offer suggestions for improvement. If you can’t pull me into a fictional dream within the first three chapters, it’s likely I won’t keep reading. And honestly, I should be engulfed by the end of the first page.

So, I’d like to invite you to join me in an adventure in editing through a reader’s eyes. Because I will always be a reader first.

In my column, The Critical Reader, we’ll take a look at a book each month, and I’ll share what I thought could be improved and what worked (in my humble opinion). My plan is to reveal tips for you and your writing through looking at the work of other authors. And I’ll try to mix it up a bit from genre-to-genre and between fiction and non-fiction.

Until then, here’s to reading!

[bctt tweet=”And as an editor, I’m a reader first. Always. #editor #editing” via=”no”]

 

Categories
Blogging Basics

38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts

Blog concept

We’ve all heard the cliche, “Content is King.” The power of blogging depends on meaningful content. With the increasing numbers of blogs on the Internet, quality content is a must. Good blogging includes quality writing, compelling content, interesting graphics, and an effective format.

Make Your Words Matter

What do you have to say? There is only one you, and you have something to unique to share. That said, there are plenty of “slice of my life,” “ramble through my day,” and “vent on my pet peeves” types of blogs on the web. You’re welcome to add one more to the pile of “blah-blah-blah” posts that ramble without focus. No one’s going to stop you, but without meaningful content, few people will read your posts.

However, if you’re blogging to communicate with a specific purpose, take the time to use a variety of successful formats to enhance your message.

Building a list of effective content is key for every blogger.

Create a list of types of blog posts that fit with your subject matter and blog niche. A content list enables you to write with variety and still stay focused in your brand.  Use your list to break through writer’s block on those frustrating days when you don’t know what to write about. Challenge yourself to practice a variety of types of formats, noting how your audience responds.

[bctt tweet=”A clear purpose gives clarity and focus to your writing.”]

Utilize the following list to write meaningful blog posts.

38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts

Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. Use this list of benefits and purposes to inspire your writing.

Meaningful content…

  1. Guides us to handle challenges or new situations.
  2. Grabs our attention.
  3. Instructs how to do something.
  4. Comforts our sorrows.
  5. Empathizes with our problems.
  6. Shares a meaningful message.
  7. Challenges our perspective.
  8. Teaches us something new.
  9. Inspires faith.
  10. Tells a story.
  11. Reminds us of the important things.
  12. Surprises us with an unexpected angle, twist, or outcome.
  13. Encourages us in our struggles and disappointments.
  14. Provokes a response.
  15. Gives a fresh perspective.
  16. Makes us think.
  17. Gives practical tips
  18. Entertains us.
  19. Explains why something is important.
  20. Strengthens a weakness.
  21. Shares a unique point of view.
  22. Cheers us on when we want to quit.
  23. Makes us smile.
  24. Affirms that we matter.
  25. Eases our pain.
  26. Compels us to action.
  27. Teaches a lesson.
  28. Helps us make decisions.
  29. Appeals to our emotions.
  30. Upholds truth.
  31. Creates community.
  32. Captivates our imagination.
  33. Exposes a problem.
  34. Instills wonder.
  35. Convinces us to change.
  36. Provides a benefit.
  37. Lists resources.
  38. Reflects on a meaningful message.

Format and purpose are two important ways to engage your reader with a powerful message. Enjoy blogging and experiment with form and purpose to increase the impact of your posts.

What can you add to the list?

[bctt tweet=”Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. #blogging #writer” via=”no”]

 

 

 

 

Categories
WARFARE!

Our Calling as Writers

I’ve often pondered why I write, and what does it mean to be a writer. Sometimes I labor over my writing when I have an assignment due or a deadline; editing and re-writes are plentiful. Sometimes I have moments of inspiration when the words pour effortlessly onto the page.

You know what I’ve discovered? The best messages are those I write as me, not as what I think others expect of me or what I think might be the “perfect” message. I have my own style, my own way of phrasing things, and my own personality. If I don’t share as me, God’s message loses something in my forced translation.

I also discovered that when I put my hands on the keyboard and give my God time, He provides the words.

Writing is about growing our relationship with Jesus (spending time with Him), and obedience to write what He tells us to write. There’s no formula. There’s no perfect time to write. There’s no perfect message.

There’s only one perfect Jesus who uses imperfect vessels to make Himself known.

No matter what or how we write, our calling as writers is to use our God-given gifts and talents to:

  • advance the Kingdom of God on this earth. Some of us share truth through stories, some of us share through Bible studies and real-life experiences, and some of us are gifted to do both.
  • write truth as the Lord reveals it, and be ready for anything that comes our way as a result. We live in a culture where Biblical truth is increasingly hated and mocked. We need to pray over our writing and share courageously. We need to pray strength and protection for each other.
  • use today’s technology to the best of our ability. Twenty years ago, who could have predicted that “going viral” would be a good thing! Our collective goal is to reach everywhere to make Him known.

We are all part of God’s army and He is our Commander in Chief. God has strategically placed us right where we are for His purposes. We all have messages to share. Some share testimony, some teach, some exhort, some inspire. We all have times of flowing words and times of laborious re-writes. We all have points of view, life experiences, and passions.

We all have a responsibility to share our words whether we reach one person or a million people; whether our message is hated or loved by one person or a thousand; whether we get no comments or hundreds.

We write as He leads.

That’s our calling as writers.

[bctt tweet=”The best messages are those I write as me… #calling #writer” via=”no”]

The image is from bing, “permission to share and use”, illuminatedlvg.com.

Categories
A Word in Season

Words for the Weary

We can share life-changing words to weary people.

I love it when God packs a whole sermon into one Bible verse.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The LORD God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning. He awakens my ear to hear as the learned” (Is. 50:4).

What a word for writers.

God wants us to be learners. We keep growing, reading, and learning. If our well runs dry for long, we won’t have anointed words to share with others.

God gives us words to share with weary people. It’s amazing how one word from the right source can change our lives. My shelves are filled with books and magazines that God used at specific points in my life to speak life into me. The Lord knows how to connect the right word with the right person at the needed time.

As we write, we ask God to use our words to encourage weary people – people who need a word from God through our pen.

God wakens us in the morning. Here is a tremendous verse of why DSCN4765God wants us to start the day with Him. Beginning the day in praise, in Scripture meditation, and in prayer, we position ourselves to fix our eyes on God. Sometimes we are the weary ones who need a word from the Lord to encourage us. We start our day with Him, knowing that having words to share with others begins by allowing His Word to soak into our hearts and minds.

God wants us to be listeners before we are writers.  We are to “hear as the learned” or “listen like one being taught.” God wants us to develop listening ears. The Holy Spirit walks through life with us. Pay attention to that voice inside. He may give you ideas for future projects, promptings on where to submit your work, or ways to encourage other readers and writers. As we allow God to teach and train us through the winding pathways of life, we grow in our understanding and ability to have words to share with others.

He gives us words in season to share with fellow pilgrims. Let’s stay on the journey together.

[bctt tweet=”God gives us words to share with weary people. #words #writer” via=”no”]

Categories
Things Every Writer Should Know

How to Make Sure Your Writing is Unique

You’re a lover of books and in you burns a desire which you cannot ignore. You want to write! At the same time you think, “There’s a gazillion authors out there. What makes me think my writing would be good enough? How will my writing stand out among so many? How do I write in a unique enough way to set me apart from other writers and successfully grab reader attention?” Before I answer with a do, here’s a vital don’t.

Don’t try to be unique.

It doesn’t work! You’ll end up with a bland and boring – generic, story. So don’t try to be unique. I assure you that every writer has their own special voice and style of writing. That includes you! Yes, we must submit to editorial changes (a topic for another day), but your voice should never be taken out of your story. Think about this for a moment: If each of us were to write a story with the same starting line, would we all write the same story? No. Everyone would write very different stories. Why?

Every writer’s story is unique.

Our personalities, our life experiences, our family and local cultures, and even our belief systems vary in so many ways. These factor in to our writing, giving each voice it’s own distinct flavor. So as you sit down to write, let the words flow and I guarantee your story will be unique.

Just for fun:

Start with the line below and write a short in the comment section. Let’s see just how unique everyone is.

Vance Scaggs stumbled in the dark. …

Have fun with that!

[bctt tweet=”Every writer’s story is unique. #writer #story” via=”no”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Simple and Easy Password Tracking

Finding Your Passwords
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

In our techno-happy world, we frequently seek the latest gadgets or apps to make our lives easier. However, sometimes the best tools are items we already possess. We simply have to put them to work in a new way. Today we’re going look at an easy way to track your passwords with an old school device—The Address Book.

An address book is a wonderful tool for managing your passwords. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can find one rather easily. However, before we move to the “how to” portion of this post, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions regarding this method:

Why wouldn’t I buy one of those password books they sell in the office supply stores?

  • They’re not alphabetical. If you have a lot of passwords, you may have to flip through the entire book before you find the one you need. That’s time wasted when you could be writing. Listing sites alphabetically is a huge benefit of using an address book as it helps you find entries quickly and easily.

Why wouldn’t I put my passwords in an electronic file or save it in an app?

  • Have you seen all the news articles about hackers lately? Everything from state tax returns to department store credit purchases have been attacked. Your safest place for a password is the one place a hacker can’t reach—the physical world.

Now, here’s how to put that address book to work:

  1. List your passwords by website name. Your Facebook password would be listed under F. Twitter would be T, and you can complete the rest.
  2. For each entry write:
    1. the website name
    2. your username or email (This is especially important if you maintain more than one email address.)
    3. your password
    4. any security question answers.
  3. ALWAYS write in pencil. At some point, you’ll have to change your password. If you write in pencil, you can just erase the old code and write a new one. This will keep your entries easy to read and make your password keeper last a long time.

Added Security Tip: If you’re concerned about someone reading your password book, put your passwords and security answers in code. A simple way to do this is to list part of the word and have the rest as dashes or Xs.

Example 1: If my answer to the security question of “Who is your favorite teacher?” is “Parker”, I could write P_ _ _ _ _. (P followed by 5 spaces.) As soon as I see the P, I’ll know which teacher I listed.

Example 2: If my password for Facebook is “zuLf12thirty”, I could write z _ L _ 12_ _ _ _ _ _. This is particularly helpful if you use a similar password for many sites but change a few letters in a specific pattern. If I see I’m using my zuL password, I know to change the letter after the capital L depending on the name of the website. For Facebook the letter becomes an f = zuLf12thirty. For Twitter the letter becomes a t – zuLt12thirty.

Final Tip: My favorite type of address book is one that’s meant for a 3-ring binder. If you don’t already have one, you can find them in the day planner section of most office supply stores. These come with A-Z tabs and blank address pages you can put in a notebook. This allows you to add pages when you need more room or remove a page if it’s gotten too messy and you want to start fresh.

Got this password thing covered? Good. Now get back to writing!

[bctt tweet=”Have you seen all the news articles about hackers lately? #writer #hacker” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Put your passwords and security answers in code #writer @password” via=”no”]

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Hurry! I Need Patience!

Don’t you love lessons in patience?

Me, neither.

Patience doesn’t come easy for me, so, when I became a Christian over 17 years ago, God began teaching me . . . I just wish He’d hurry!

Today seemed like Finals Week in His lesson plan.

First, I went to a fast food restaurant to get my wife some breakfast. They gave me a number, 141, and I watched as numbers passed me by . . . 142 . . . 143 . . . 148. As we got closer to 150, I got worried.

Next, I stopped at a popular retail store to get a key made for my son’s new car. I walked to the key counter at the back of the store, got the key made relatively easily, and walked back outside to try it. Of course, it didn’t work, so I made my way back inside and to the back of the store to the counter, where a man was purchasing a fishing license and supplies. He made Tim Conway’s “old man” character from the Carol Burnett Show look like the Flash.

When it was finally my turn, the lady examined the key, realized the wrong mold had been used and they were out of the one I needed.

I had to go back up front to the returns counter for a refund, and a long, slow-moving line awaited me there.

I returned home to do my son’s laundry from tennis camp. I had kept his bag closed all night because . . . well, you can imagine.

I worked up my courage, opened the bag, loaded the clothes and turned on the washer. Nothing happened. Turns out, my neighborhood was experiencing a water outage.

Due to this outage, I had to go to another local restaurant to get supper. After waiting for an interminable time, I got my food, but the order was wrong. More waiting.

Days like these make me want to drop out of “Patience 101,” but, unfortunately, it’s a required course.

Writing and publishing are a major part of this learning experience. I write, I submit, I wait. I get a rejection, I try again. And on and on.

Sometimes I have to step back and remember why I do what I do. It was God Who planted this dream of writing and publishing in my heart, and it is God Who will see it come to fruition, in His time and in His way.

But, man, I wish He’d hurry!

[bctt tweet=”Don’t you love lessons in patience? #writer @amwriting” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=” I write, I submit, I wait. I get a rejection, I try again. #writerslife #author” via=”no”]

Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

The Art of Poetry

In my opinion, poetry is the high art form of all writing.

Crafting a meaningful poem can’t be done by anyone, but I believe anyone can learn to craft an extraordinary poem.

Hence the purpose of this blog A Pinch of Poetry where we will take our poetic talent to the next level.

Let’s consider visual art for a moment.  We could agree that most anyone can draw, color, or paint even if on the level of creating stick-figure abstract art.  But not everyone will become the next Van Gogh or Picasso.

So what makes renowned artists’ work more valuable than say a third-grade rendition of family life?  What defines them as “artists” rather than someone playing around in paint?

Techniques and intention distinguish art and poetry because they create aesthetic beauty.

Professional artists employ certain techniques to create an effect on the viewer or reader.  Every brush stroke and medium or color chosen is with a purpose.  Nothing is accidental. If you study a work carefully enough, you will discover secrets hidden deep within it that the artist is trying to share with you.

So it is with the art of writing poetry.

[bctt tweet=”Authentic Poetry is truly a high art form. #art #poetry”]

Crafting a poem goes beyond penning words on a page.  Many people can write a poem if given instructions just as so many could create a drawing.  But only a few will take poetry to another level and create written art.

How so?

When creating a poem, the poet has to consider the subject and the meaning they want to get across in as few words as possible.  Then he or she chooses the techniques which will best create images to convey those messages.  Some of those techniques are metaphor, personification, meter, alliteration, etc.

While we all have had the definitions of these techniques mercilessly beaten into us by our English teachers, implementing them is not as easy as it might seem.  And not all techniques are appropriate for every poem.  A poet decides what will work just like a visual artist decides what colors to use in a painting.

Every word and technique chosen has a purpose and meaning.  Nothing is accidental.

So if you’re already a poet then you can consider yourself an artist because authentic poetry is truly a high art form.  If you’re not poetically inclined yet, I look forward to helping you get acquainted with the craft.

Consider it an artistic adventure.

Have you ever considered poetry an art?  Tell me your thoughts below.

“VanGogh-View of Arles with Irises” by Vincent van Gogh – Web Museum (file). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh-View_of_Arles_with_Irises.jpg#/media/File:VanGogh-View_of_Arles_with_Irises.jpg

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

How Can Teen Writers Become Published?

“I’m a teen writer. How can I become published?”

This is a question I’ve been asked countless times. I, too, was once a teenager who dreamt of publication.

However, I quickly discovered that many adults advise against pursuing publication as a teen.

In some ways, I agree. Publication should not become the sole reason we write, nor should anyone rush to pursue it.

But if I only treated writing as a hobby, then it would’ve never turned into my career. If I hadn’t set high goals, then I wouldn’t have had the determination to push forward.

And I wouldn’t have received a publishing contract at sixteen-years-old.

No, I don’t believe that every teen writer should seek publication. There are several disadvantages of being a teen author.

But if you are a teen who loves to write, then it only makes sense that you would want to see your story in print. Just be careful that you don’t rush the process and neglect to learn the craft.

Before I held my debut novel in my hands, I invested hours into studying the craft, learning the industry, and strengthening my writing.

And now I am passionate about encouraging other teen writers. I want to share with you secrets and tips about the craft; I want to break down the publishing process so it can become achievable.

There is no better time than your teen years to prepare for your future—and this includes your career.

[bctt tweet=”There is no better time than your teen years to prepare for your future. #teenwriters #writingtips #teenauthor”]

So can teen writers become published? Yes. It may require sacrifices, but yes, teens can become published—or at least begin walking in that direction.

That’s what this column is for. I want to guide you, Young Scribe, through the world of writing.

So if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comments below!

[bctt tweet=”How can teens become published? #teenwriters #amwriting #yalitchat”]

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Writing is Residual Ministry: It Lives On

photo by John Scalzi and made available for reuse.

I went to a meeting just to be nice to my friend, but I heard a phrase I have not forgotten.

In college, a friend started in Amway and thought that his fellow ministry students might actually have the money to join him. So as a broke, newly married college student, I listened to his spiel until he said, “RESIDUAL INCOME.” I have not experienced it, but the idea sounds amazing — to continue earning income long after the work has been done.

He told us we could pay the fee, set-up the website, and have a few conversations then — BOOM sit back and rake in the dough. Yeah, I know it’s not that simple, but you get the picture. You could expend effort once and continue getting paid, even when you’re off the clock or sleeping.

I don’t remember what he said after “residual income”, but I loved the idea.

I believe it’s not only a great business idea, but also a great concept for ministry. What if we could work hard once and then for days, months, years, decades, and even centuries there would be residual ministry? Even while we are sleeping our work could continue ministering to someone, and [bctt tweet=”even when our body is in the grave we could keep sharing the Gospel.”]

If there is such a ministry shouldn’t we invest our lives into it?

There is a residual ministry.

And you are doing it — it is writing.

You might struggle as I do. I know I am called to write, but I have a hard time hiding myself away in my Starbucks writing cave because there is “real” ministry that needs to take place. How can I hide away from the world when there are folks in this very coffee house that need to hear the Gospel?

How can I type away when there are hurting individuals that I could visit?

Ministry is about people therefore I need to be with people, but out of all I might do no ministry will keep ministering longer than my writing.

Moses had a successful ministry. He lead a couple million people out of slavery, established a nation, judged over daily affairs, taught the Law, and even organized the religious practices of Israel. But out of all he did, it’s his writings that have ministered the most.

The same could be said of Paul. He lead many people to the Lord, planted many churches, established doctrine, taught, but it is his writing that has continued to minister.

For Moses and for Paul their writing was residual ministry. The same is true for us.

Your writing ministry will live on. It will keep ministering even after you’re gone.

[bctt tweet=”If there is such a ministry shouldn’t we invest our lives into it? #writing #write” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Your writing ministry will live on. #author #amwriting”]

Categories
Talking Character

Pros and Cons of Character Questionnaires

Good writers know that developing well-rounded characters is critical, and one technique for creating such interesting characters is to create in-depth bios using character questionnaires. The point of these tools is to stretch you to think about your character in ways that might not have occurred to you.

[bctt tweet=”How well do you know your character? #amwriting #characters”]

Some examples:

  • As a kid, what did he want to be when he grew up?
  • What is her happiest memory?
  • What does she think makes a person successful?
  • What three words would be on his tombstone?
  • What superpowers does he wish he had?
  • Does she hate her middle name?

The internet offers sites with links to dozens of questionnaires, from basic to comprehensive. I even discovered a random question generator. (Is this akin to Paul’s discovery of an altar to an unknown god? And perhaps just as useful?)

Strategic character building

Running through a few of these questionnaires can help you build a more rounded character, but they might also lead you down rabbit trails that will later complicate or sidetrack your writing.

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron warns that character questionnaires can be “so all-encompassing that, ironically, they obscure the very info you’re looking for. Here’s the secret: you are looking only for information that pertains to the story you’re telling.”

If the fact that your hero is afraid of snakes doesn’t pertain to the plot, then including it does not add depth so much as reader frustration. They will wonder when the hero will be forced to face a snake, and disappointed when it never happens.

[bctt tweet=”Use character questionnaires with caution. #writetip #writer”]

Perhaps a question will spark insights into your character that will make your story richer, but beware of clogging the story with details that lead nowhere.

Categories
A Little Red Ink

Character Motivation

Everybody wants something. Why do YOU want to write, for example?

Maybe you want to write a book for the story’s sake. A vociferous, misunderstood character started vying for your mental attention and enthralled you with his antics. He gets under your skin in all the right ways, and he’s an entertaining guy. You don’t want the world to miss out.

Maybe you like to challenge people. You’re on a metaphorical soapbox, and—rather than flat out preaching at the masses—allegory would be a better, wiser venue for your message. It’s time people question the status quo. Or act on their convictions. Your story will call them on that.

2D Joost

Or maybe you want to be rich and famous. You fancy yourself the next J.K. Rowling or Frank Peretti. (NOTE: If this is your motivation, you’re in the wrong field. There’s an easier road you should travel, somewhere.)

I know there are scads of other reasons people write. But the point is: something drives you.

Something’s got to drive your characters too.

Character motivation matters.

And I don’t mean only your main characters.  Would you want to watch a play—no matter the genre—where only the protagonist and the antagonist were played by humans? Everyone else was a cardboard cutout?

(NOTE: Even though there are no other humans pictured below, I am NOT saying The Doctor interacts with a bunch of emoticons-on-sticks. Far from it. I simply couldn’t resist using THESE particular cardboard cutouts when I spotted them.)

doctor cutout

Too often, I read books in which the cast may as well be made up of action figures. The MC wanders over near the smiling cut out when he needs encouragement and hangs out with the stereotypical thug when he feels dangerous. He can’t bum a cigarette, though, because there’s just the one. Permanently in Dude’s hand. You’d have to cut his hand off to get rid of that thing.

As Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. said,

every.

single.

character.

should want something—

even if all he wants is a glass of water.

Surround your main characters with a cast of characters who are also each desperate for something, determined to change something. To achieve something.

To defuse the bomb.

To hear their father say he’s proud of them.

To find the cure.

To get her to say Yes.

Give them motives and goals, and SHOW your readers what they’re after.

For truly multi-dimensional characters, give them motivations that might surprise the readers. Show a soft side or a deep-seated fear in the heart of the bad guy. Maybe you’ve got a selfless and thoughtful protag, but there’s one thing she absolutely cannot STAND. Show it to us.

[bctt tweet=”Surprise people. Add dimension to cardboard characters with motivation. #writing tips #ALittleRedInk”]

Okay, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Flat Out Love, by Jessica Park. If you’ve read this book, you know what I’m about to say. (If you haven’t…) There actually WAS a cardboard cut out character–an enthralling one, I might add–Flat Finn. Talk about a quirky cast, all flawed and winsome!

flat stanley

But what about other favorite books? Don’t you love reading a novel that makes you want a sequel—where your favorite minor character gets to play lead? Even if there’s NOT a sequel? I love dreaming about what could be.

How about Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings? History, politics, culture, and languages were all so well-developed that there could have been shelves full of books penned. I’d have adored Eowyn and Faramir’s story. Or more about Samwise. He gets my vote for the true hero.

Serena Chase’s Eyes of E’veria series? During The Ryn and The Remedy (her reimagining of “Snow White and Rose Red”) I wanted more of Cazien the pirate. Got him. She wrote The Seahorse Legacy and The Sunken Realm (summer of 2015), a phenomenal, gripping retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

Ronie Kendig’s Rapid Fire Fiction. This may be one of Ronie’s greatest areas of giftedness. She’s made me crave another SERIES. And then delivered. Twice.

Charity Tinnin’s Haunted. I empathized with the bad boy much more than I intended to, and his story is on the horizon. That’ll be an automatic pre-order for me.

Steven James’s Patrick Bowers Files. I loved every scene with Tessa or Ralph. I felt like I knew them.

Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. What about Angela? And I’d have loved a prequel about Brom.

All of these books left me wanting more. And got me to immediately follow the authors on Twitter and Facebook. Marketing genius, writers.

Writing genius.

Who is the most intriguing minor character YOU’VE read recently? What was it that got to you?

[bctt tweet=”What minor character makes you wish he’d gotten center stage? #amreading #amwriting”]

 

Thanks to Joost Assink, Richard Anderson, and Heather N. for the photos.

Portions of this content were previously posted at www.alittleredink.com

Categories
Romancing Your Story

Romancing Your Story

Welcome to Almost An Author! My name is Mary Moore. I started writing in 1995, but was not published until 2011. Yep, getting published can be a very slow process. But I hope what you gain from the invaluable information on this site will help and encourage you to keep pushing toward your goal.

If you do not know, I am a romance writer. Well, I’m a historical romance writer. No, I’m a Christian historical romance writer. Actually, I am a Christian historical romance writer in the Regency genre. Whew!

But whatever you write, whether Regency fiction, contemporary fiction, mysteries, chick lit, sci-fi, paranormal, historical, Amish, westerns or Biblical fiction, more often than not you will include a vein of romance. Me, I include an artery.

So from here on out, we will look at developing the romance portion of your plot and the components needed to make it believable. Even if the romance is secondary to, say, the mystery of your story, it still needs to be developed into and/or around the plot within some guidelines. And your characters? They definitely need to have the romantic elements that make your reader want to invest in them. Who wants a ho-hum heart throb?

Finally, I would love to hear what you would like to talk about. If you have questions on your characters or plots, or a specific question (that probably 100 other authors want to ask), just leave a comment below and we’ll go from there.

Be advised, however, that being published doesn’t make me an expert on anything! You could ask 20 writers how they plot or keep track of the main characters and their butlers and valets and rich aunts, and they will all say something different. So you be you and take away as much information as you think will help. I give you permission!

I look forward to getting to know you!

[bctt tweet=”Be advised, however, that being published doesn’t make me an expert on anything! #published #writer”]

[bctt tweet=”Who wants a ho-hum heart throb? #romance #novel #chiklit”]

 

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Favorite Colors

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