Categories
Screenwriting

Friction

Every writer has a desire to learn the craft, screenwriters more so. However, their journey is complicated by the essence of their craft. Movies are visual anomalies and it’s a screenwriter’s job to break them down into its subparts in words.

  • Characters
  • Setting
  • Conflict
  • Plot
  • Theme

In a clear and visual way that creates a complete story on the screen. The glue that holds it all together is the center subpart: conflict. Author, speaker and screenwriter Donald Miller notes,

“Far from being a bad thing, conflict in story is a necessity.”

When I was in college and wanted to be a writer, my main problem was I had no ideas for a story, just knowledge about how to write it. Then, the unthinkable happened, always in a severe car accident that left me partially paralyzed.

If you follow the disability column here on Almost an Author, you’ve read about my struggles of writing with a disability. My disability has become the conflict in my own story.

My own body has worked against me for over 20 years now. What I learned so far is that my conflict, my disability, isn’t actually against me—the friction is actually helping me grow as a person and writer.

As hard as it is for some to accept in this day and age, the truth is friction fuels life is as much as conflict fuels our stories in our writing. Miller continues,

“There is no character development without conflict. So when we choose our ambitions, they should be difficult and we should anticipate and even welcome conflict.”

Conflict?

To better understand conflict, let’s look at the definition: A battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife; antagonism or opposition, friction. In our stories it’s our protagonist’s opposition. This opposition or complement may come in one of various forms.

  1. External – The most obvious and visual to an audience, this form of conflict is a physical struggle against the protagonist.
  2. Internal – Not always obvious, but the most important type of conflict because it often reveals our protagonist’s goal and flaws, it also reveals our character growth throughout our story. In film this type of conflict can be the hardest to show instead of tell.
  3. Interactional – This type of conflict is more of a relational conflict, how our protagonist deals with other personalities (both different and similar).
  4. Environmental – While similar to external, this conflict is more of a location or setting-fueled conflict, think a “fish out of water” story.

Environmental conflict is everywhere in life, we see it in Mother Nature; we experience it when we travel and even within our own bodies when they don’t agree with Mother Nature. As fall approaches, my allergies are already beginning to act up. Unfortunately I can’t even see the little particles that do war with my body—but somewhere there are hidden triggers waiting to set me off.

Background?

Even if conflict isn’t obvious in our stories (which it should be), there should always be something motivating our protagonist to grow, be better, do better or get stronger. Conflict is often personified in the form of the antagonist in our story, screenplay or novel.

Award-winning author and speaker Steven James once shared,

“All stories involve some sort of pursuit, but how many chapters or acts or pages that takes depends more on the obstacles that the characters encounter and their subsequent choices.”[1]

In some of the best movies, conflict is multilayered and fueled by each of the conflict types I mentioned earlier and they shape each of the sub parts I mentioned at the beginning. Here are a few examples that come to mind.

  • The Breakfast Club
  • Forrest Gump
  • Slum Dog Millionaire
  • Rocky

The Rocky franchise is a classic example. We see our hero struggle with his body, his environment, his ego and his relationship with his wife; each causing Balboa to grow through friction.

[1] http://www.jungleredwriters.com/2017/11/steven-james-consummate-story-blender.html

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

Categories
My Writing Journey

The Wavering Writer

Doubts assailed me as I stood on the mountain anticipating my first Christian writers conference. Fear tainted my excitement, and I wondered if coming was a mistake.

Was this God’s plan or just my idea? I’ve dreamed of this venture for years. Friends deem my efforts as publication-worthy, but will an agent agree?

Writing for God. Wow, what a blessing! But did He choose me for this kingdom work? Surely not. I’m a fair judge of writing and mine is okay—well, maybe good—but not excellent.

With thoughts swirling, I recalled some self-talk and prayer that had occurred after I’d accepted what I believed to be God’s call to write. Shortly after I began to study and practice the craft, I read articles authored by friends and silently declared, That’s it. I won’t do it! Their writing is great, but mine isn’t. God certainly didn’t call me to write.

The Lord interrupted my internal tirade and asked, “Jeannie, are you willing to write with the gift I gave you even if it doesn’t appear as profound as someone else’s?”

His question dissolved me into a puddle of tears and I cried, Yes, Lord, I will. I offer this gift back to You.

As God reminded me of that encounter in prayer, my paralysis on the mountain turned into grateful obedience.

During the two years following that first conference, I contracted to write devotions for two compilations, contributed to a Selah award finalist, started writing for Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and published a poem. What amazing blessings and confirmation for this wavering writer!

Last year, when Beebe and Katy Kauffman envisioned the Bible study compilation, Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, I shunned fear, trusted God, and joined the team as a new Bible study writer. Then, this past spring, I established what I call “my fledgling blog” to try my wings at encouraging readers. With each opportunity, God helps me grow as a Christian and a writer.

Doubts still sneak in, but when they do, a heavenly shoulder tap reminds me of God’s call. Recently, after reading a friend’s blog post, those doubts resurfaced.  

Dena’s post has a great format and clear focus. Mine, not so much. Maybe I shouldn’t even . . . Wait. Stop! I’m comparing again and finding myself lacking.

Father, transform me into the writer You want me to become. I pray, “Teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8b NASB).

Praying and reading Scripture redirect my thoughts to God’s plan and produce peace and assurance. I’m thankful God walks with me through “Doubt Valley” and sets my feet on the mountain of His grace while teaching me to serve Him through writing. God doesn’t always call people who are experts, but He continues to prepare those He calls.

Do self-talk and doubts hinder your writing? If so, what gets you back on track?

Jeannie Waters adores family time and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs. She teaches English as a Second Language part-time and leads an English/Bible study. Jeannie writes for Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and she contributed to these compilations: Breaking the Chains and Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character (Lighthouse Bible Studies), as well as Just Breathe and Let the Earth Rejoice (Worthy). Visit her at jeanniewaters.com or @jeanniewaters44 on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Categories
Literary Women in Histor

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Wisdom for Today by Kathryn Ross

In last month’s post, I shared about the disturbing trend of imposing modern standards to classic works of literature and the arts, with the recent stripping of Laura Ingalls Wilder from the literary award named for her in the 1950s by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). She’s been accused of racism for scant references in her books to minorities as understood by her as a child. Read more details on this here.

Laura Ingalls Wilder, beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie books, lived through great change in America. In fact, she experienced first-hand the seismic shifts in the nation caused by the Civil War, the end of slavery, the Industrial Revolution, Westward Expansion, the automobile, the airplane, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and even Elvis Presley. When she passed in 1957, just four days after her 90th birthday, her humble roots and written accounts of childhood and coming of age during the settling of the West, had catapulted her to world-wide fame as an icon of traditional American values and imagery.

But through the misguided, officious, agenda-driven move of the ALSC, the accuracy of Mrs. Wilder and her character has been called into question. This does not bode well for all writers of the past—their written accounts of life, living, and worldview in historical narratives drawn from the experience of their time. The threat that such may be divested of their veracity and precision as historical narratives to placate contemporary political correctness is abominable. This extends to modern authors of historical fiction, too, who may feel they are forced to present an historical time period and the worldviews of historical characters through a manipulated 21st century PC lens.

Authors and artists must be judged by their whole body of work. It is a shame the ALSC, who should know better, did not afford Mrs. Wilder that courtesy. As Christian writers today, we have stories to tell and a message to convey that may not be popular in a worldly sense. We may find ourselves judged harshly for simply telling the truth.

How would you respond if such a thing happened to you?

In wondering how Laura Ingalls Wilder might respond were she here to defend herself and her writing, she might take her own advice from this gem of a quote:

The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.

Be honest and truthful—Write accurate details when sharing your own story, no matter how messy or unpopular. Historical fiction must ring true to the time and setting, too. Don’t put words, actions, or perspectives within your characters that may be fashionable today but wouldn’t be accurate in the era within which you’re writing.

Make the most of what you have—Mrs. Wilder never envisioned herself as a great writer. She was a farmer’s wife and grew into writing poetry and on farm topics as a hobby for a local periodical. The Little House books started as a memoir she wrote in her 60s in longhand on lined paper. Her daughter Rose, a gifted author and journalist, acted as a gatekeeper into the publishing world and collaborator on the books typing them up and helping in the editing process. Laura made the most of her life’s story, bringing historical recall of details from a time long past to the table, and capitalized on filling a need for entertaining and educational reading material for children in the turbulent days of the mid-20th century.

Be happy with simple pleasures—Living and working through the day to day chores on her beloved farm with her husband, Almanzo, enjoying friends and family, and supporting the Methodist church life where she worshipped made up the lion share of Mrs. Wilder’s life until she began writing the books. Even then, there was always time to take in the beauties of Creation and maintain the simple life and seasonal routines of a farmer’s wife. Simple pleasures are a tonic to worldly cares.

Have courage when things go wrong—In addition to the high times of joyful living, Laura’s books give detailed accounts of perilous days when food was scarce, travel arduous, work hard to find, loved ones lost, great danger, and perceived injustices. Even so, the character of the American pioneer instilled itself deep within her makeup from childhood. Resilience, courage, and perseverance led the way. When Laura’s first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 during the Depression, it encouraged Americans through a season of hardship and sacrifice. So, too, as she continued to write her story through the World War II years in the 1940s, her books reminded America of their liberties and pride in their country and a history worthy to defend and protect in dangerous times.

 Journal Prompt: Are you bold enough to write from a foundation of accurate truth in its historical setting even though it may be perceived as unacceptable for one reason or another in the current time? How can you steel yourself to be a bold, fearless writer of truth, making the most of what you have with a happy heart undergirded with courage?

TWEET: [bctt tweet=”#Laura Ingalls Wilder: Wisdom for Today—fearlessly writing truth with wisdom to defend it; Women Writers in Life and Letters Series ” username=”@A3writers @misskathypwp”]

TWEET: [bctt tweet=”#Women Writers in Life and Letters—Laura Ingalls Wilder: Wisdom for Today ” username=”@A3writers @misskathypwp”]

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

 

Categories
Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — with DeAnna Dodson

Can you share a little about your recent book?

The one I’m working on right now is called Flotsam and Jetsam. It’s Book 24 for the Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series for Guideposts. Here’s the blurb:

While preparing for her upcoming marriage to Gerald O’Bannon, Priscilla Grant has a lot to keep her busy. It isn’t easy to blend two established households into one, especially when the one is a tiny seaside cottage on Martha’s Vineyard. But all of her carefully laid plans are interrupted when Gerald’s prized family heirloom, a valuable eighteenth-century ship’s figurehead, is stolen from the East Shore Historical Museum before it can be moved to its permanent home in Priscilla’s lighthouse. While the police try to figure out who could have taken the figurehead and how, elderly Alzheimer’s patient Tom Campbell claims he knows how it was done. He doesn’t remember who did it or when, but he’s seen this before, and he’s sure that if he thinks about it hard enough, the details will come to him. Soon Priscilla begins to wonder if the thief would rather get rid of the old man than have him remember too much. Can she find the figurehead and the thief before Tom is silenced forever?

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

I write because I am unable to not write. It’s just how I’m wired. But now that my boss of 21 years has decided to retire, I write because I have to earn a living, too. However, one of the main reasons I want to keep writing is to keep presenting a Christian worldview to the world. Secular writers seem to be pushing the envelope more and more, changing society for the worse in many ways, calling wrong right and right wrong. I want to do my part to keep presenting characters who live Christian lives with no apology and yet face the same struggles as everyone else.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing in my teens. I used to write episodes of my favorite TV shows and things like that. Then I started writing medieval scenes just to amuse myself when I was bored in my college classes. Those scenes eventually became my first book, In Honor Bound, but that wasn’t published until about fifteen years later. I guess I’ve been a serious writer for about 25 years.

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

It was a complete miracle, but my first book was accepted by the third publisher I queried, Crossway Books. I never expected to be published at all, so their offer was a total surprise. All of my books are with traditional publishers, but I might try out some independent projects too someday. If I ever get caught up.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on what kind of book it is and what else is going on in my life. My first book took me about eleven years. Now I can write a book in about two months, as long as I’ve done my preparation ahead of time and have a solid synopsis already worked out. My Drew Farthering Mysteries take me about five months.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

It’s gotten a little crazy lately, because one of my publishers changed their minds about what they wanted after I had written about half of the book, so I pretty much had to start over on that one. I had to double my daily quota to get caught up again. I try to write only Monday through Friday, but I often use Saturdays as a catchup day. I don’t write on Sundays. I feel like I’m more productive if I have at least one day off a week. I have a printout with my word count for each day on it divided into one-hundred-word increments. I figure anybody can write a hundred words, right? So I just keep ticking off 100s until I’m done for the day. Easier said than done.

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

I don’t know how interesting it is, but I can’t listen to music when I write. Actually, I can listen to music, but not to singing or music I know the words to. If I hear words from a song, I can’t hear the words in my head.

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

I really enjoy it when readers connect with the characters, when they worry about them and get mad at them and want to know what they’ll do next. If a character seems real to a reader, I’ve done my job. I also love it when readers take something my characters have learned from what they are going through and apply it to their own lives.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

I think the worst was that, after my first three books, my publisher decided they didn’t want more from me. Very foolishly, I let that keep me from dusting myself off and trying again for about ten years.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Oh, man, that’s a hard question, but I think it’s probably Murder on the Moor. I had a ton of fun with that one. Here’s a quick summary:

Drew Farthering comes to Bloodworth Park Lodge on the mysterious Yorkshire moors to investigate incidents of mischief making, poaching, longstanding grudges, and even the murder of the local vicar. Do the affections of the lady of the Lodge lie with her husband or with his fiery Welsh gamekeeper? And what’s behind rumors of the spectral black hound that haunts the moor? Drew must separate fact from fiction and find the killer before it’s too late.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I have so many, it’s hard to say. For mystery, it’s probably Margery Allingham or Agatha Christie. For romance, I have to go to Georgette Heyer. She knows the Regency period so well and she has a wicked sense of humor. I love C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. I could go on for pages. My favorite depends on my mood.

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

Expect rejection, but don’t let it keep you from doing what you want to do. And don’t expect to make a lot of money in the business. Yes, some people do very well, but I compare it to acting. A lot of aspiring actors are working hard at their day jobs trying to make ends meet until that big break comes. Some make it big. Most don’t. After 21 years being published and having my nineteenth book just come out, I am only now trying to live off my writing income. That wouldn’t be possible if I hadn’t squirrelled away most of my earlier writing income in case of emergency. Will I be able to make it without a day job? Ask me in a year.

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

I think I’ve been singularly blessed, because I haven’t had a huge amount of rejection up till now. Yes, I’ve had it. Certainly. And, yes, it’s hurt. A lot. But I’ve also had a lot of acceptance. Without that, I don’t know if I could have handled the rejection and kept on trying. I might have decided I wasn’t meant to be a writer and tried something else. But I think God has called me to this business, for His own reasons, so I do my best to write my books in a way that pleases Him until He shows me He wants me to do something else. But anyone who wants to be published is going to have rejection. It’s what you do after that rejection that makes the difference between failure and success.

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

I like all my heroes the best, but maybe Tom Chastelayne from my very first trilogy is my favorite. Drew Farthering is a very close second.

Where do you get your ideas?

I depends. Usually I’ll read something or see it in a movie or on television and it makes me think “What if?” I think most often I see something that has been done a hundred times before and wonder how I can turn that on its head in a way that will surprise people.

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

I think the worst one is rushing to publish something that’s not ready to be published. I’ve heard that to become an expert at anything, one has to spend 10,000 hours learning to do it. That’s a lot of time to spend without getting anything in return, even just the joy of seeing your name on a book cover. But, really, serious writers spend that kind of time. Even the most gifted need to study the craft so the presentation of their wonderful ideas will be appreciated instead of being dismissed because of spelling, grammar and punctuation problems. On the internet, you can’t hide five hundred of your early vanity-published books in your basement. Once it’s on Amazon, that cringeworthy first attempt will never go away. And often readers who read a first attempt are forever soured on that author, no matter how fabulous he may become in time. Take the time to learn the craft. You’ll never regret it.

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

That really depends on the writer. Self-publishing has pretty much shed its “vanity press” image. Excellent writers are self-publishing and doing very well with it. It all depends on what kind of work the writer wants to do. Does he want to concentrate on writing and let someone else take care of marketing and distribution and book design and all those other things that go into publishing a book? Then traditional is the way to go. If he wants to be in control of every aspect of the book, including the responsibility of getting it distributed nation- and worldwide, then indie is probably the way to go. Anyone can self-publish. Smart indie authors take the time and trouble to do it as professionally as possible.

      

Bio:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016), Murder on the Moor and Death at Thorburn Hall (2017). Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and several contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

My books can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book Distributors as well as directly from the publishers.

Publishers:

Bethany House/Baker Books  http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse

Guideposts  https://www.shopguideposts.org/

Annie’s Fiction  https://www.anniesfiction.com

On the web:

www.juliannadeering.com

www.deannajuliedodson.com

On Facebook:

https://business.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering/

https://www.facebook.com/julie.dodson.9659

On Twitter:

@DeAnnaJulDodson

On Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565151.Julianna_Deering

 

Categories
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Elements of Suspense: The Cliffhanger

mystery suspense thriller

Once upon a time writers actually left their characters hanging from cliffs. In the early days of movies, when theaters ran serialized episodes of a story, a cliffhanger ending was a good way to ensure viewers would make the effort to come back next week. The same was true for serialized novels run in newspapers and magazines. Writers intentionally left characters hanging (not necessarily from a cliff) to entice readers to purchase the next installment.

Today’s readers and moviegoers may roll their eyes at Pauline hanging by her fingertips from a cliff, but the cliffhanger technique is still very much in use. If we change the definition of cliffhanger from:

a situation of imminent disaster usually occurring at the end of an episode of a serialized film

to the broader concept of:

a moment of unresolved danger or conflict

then a cliffhanger can happen anywhere a writer needs to crank up the tension. The key here is unresolved. Something is left hanging.

Consider the commercial breaks in a typical detective show. When do the breaks happen? Just after some new evidence is discovered that threatens to take the investigation in a whole new direction. Viewers are left hanging during the commercial, wondering what the hero will do with the new information.

In a similar vein, writers use the cliffhanger technique at the end of a chapter, scene, or beat to keep readers turning pages.

How to use the unresolved tension of a cliffhanger to increase suspense in your manuscript

  1. End a scene in the middle of danger. The tried and true cliffhanger ending—a bad thing has happened and the character is left some kind of danger at the end of a scene. You might switch to a different set of characters in the next scene and leave the poor hero hanging for a scene or two, or you might continue the action in the next scene. Either way, the reader must keep reading to find out how the situation is resolved.
  2. End a scene by hinting that a bad thing is about to happen. The doorknob turns… A shadowy figure appears in the window… The heroine hears the voice she’s been dreading for pages… This is similar to number one, except the danger is only implied, leaving the reader to imagine all sorts of horrible things that are about to ensue.
  3. End a scene by hinting that a bad thing might be about to happen. A subtler variation of number two. Instead of the heroine hearing a voice she recognizes and dreads, what if she hears a voice she doesn’t recognize? Is it a friend or a foe? The reader doesn’t know until they read on.
  4. End a scene on an ambiguous note. Instead of making it clear exactly what happened and how that affects the main character, try leaving things a little less clear. Sometimes a writer can accomplish this simply by backing up a few sentences. Instead of ending the scene with the sleuth deciding she needs to question the shop clerk, back up a few sentences and end with the information that could be interpreted to mean the clerk was guilty.

The cliffhanger technique isn’t just for the end of chapters or episodes, however. You can use subtle touches of cliffhanger anywhere in your story.

  1. End a conversation with a tantalizing bit of information. Imagine the sleuth is talking with an informant who tells him about a new clue that’s come to light. But instead of giving all the details right away, the informant says, “I found something in the wall of the garage. You’d better come take a look.” The sleuth will naturally ask for details, but the if informant refuses to give them, both sleuth and reader will be dying to find out what’s been unearthed. Ratchet up the tension further by forcing the sleuth to finish his current task before he can go take a look.
  2. Leave a character in a high emotional state. Tension is not only created by external danger. Sometimes the conflict is within a character.  Examples: The hero gets word his wife has cancer while in the middle of a meeting, or the heroine has an argument with her fiancé but has to break it off to interview a key suspect. These bits of unresolved life issues can add tension even when they have nothing to do with the main plot.

Bottom line: Look for places in your story where you can leave a situation unresolved, however briefly. Closure is important at the end of story, but unresolved tension is what keeps the reader turning page after page to get there.

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

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for August 14, 21 & 28

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

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

Why Writers Need a Website with Rhonda Dragomir, Joshua J. Masters, and Matthew Brough

Why do writers need a website? Our fantastic trio can count the reasons. Learn from those who’ve gone before as Rhonda, Josh, and Matt give us the top nine reasons why writers need websites.

Watch the August 14th replay.

Need inspiration for your own website? Find your source from the Show Notes and Live Chat discussion.

Show Notes and Live Chat link:

About Our Guests

Rhonda Dragomir is a graduate of Asbury University with a degree in Social Work, she is also a pastor’s wife and Bible teacher. Rhonda is an award-winning writer, with published works in Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies and Spark magazine.

Joshua J. Masters is a pastor, author, and speaker. He was featured on CBN, HIS Radio, the Light Radio Network, and One Christian Voice. He was also involved in the production of over a dozen films as director, crew member, and a SAG-AFTRA actor. You can connect with Joshua at: www.joshuajmasters.com

Matthew Brough has pastored Canadian congregations in the Presbyterian Church for over 13 years and currently serves Prairie Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, MB. He has church planted, and worked in youth and young adult ministry for many years. Matthew is the author of a fantasy adventure book series for ages eight and up. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife, Cheryl, and their daughter, Juliet.

Website Wizardry & WordPress with Joshua J. Masters and Rhonda Dragomir

Joshua J. Masters and Rhonda Dragomir return with part 2 of their website series to show us the basics of website planning. Learn about domain names, hosting platforms, SSL certificates, the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, and much more!

Check out the August 21st replay.

For a list of hosting platforms and helpful website tools, go to the Show Notes and Live Chat Links.

Show Notes and Live Chat Link:

Sticky Statements with Jean Wise

Are you familiar with the term “sticky statements”? If like me, it had you scratching your head, perplexed, then you’ve come to the right place. Our very own, Jean Wise, expounds on what sticky statements are, and how they can transform our writing.

Watch the August 28th replay.

For sources to help you with your own sticky statements, see our Show Notes and Live Chat Links.

Show Notes and Live Chat Link:

Jean Wise is a freelance writer, speaker, retreat leader and spiritual director. She is a contributing author of devotions for six compilations published by Barbour, plus the solo author for Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room, an Advent devotion (Barbour Books, 2014). She has published numerous magazine articles in magazines such as the Lutheran, Christian Communicator and public health journals.

JOIN US!

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

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

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

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Proofreading?

Often, what we intend to say never comes through in what we write. Sometimes our enthusiasm inhibits the thoughts we are trying to communicate. Unless you’re one of the writing savants who never makes a mistake, you will have to revise your writing—you will have multiple drafts.

Multiple drafts ensure that your takeaway is clearly communicated. Revisions require rereading of our writing.

This aspect of writing gives me the most trouble with my disability. Again, my brain injury affects my eyesight. I have trouble reading an entire line without losing my place. I can look at a sentence a billion times and never see a typo. The situation is complicated more by my use of speech dictation. If my software dictates incorrectly, I overlook the error. But, like any other writer, I must sharpen my writing skills.

After college, I wanted to learn more about my craft. I knew I needed to learn how to communicate clearly with my audience. My goal was to be a professional writer.

Almost 10 years ago I learned about a professional writing course that utilized Christian authors as mentors for writing enthusiasts like me. After I received all the information, I applied for a grant for people with brain injuries in Georgia.

I was so excited when I received my introduction packet from the writing program I immediately got to work on crafting an introductory email to send to my assigned mentor and emailed it before I went to bed that night.

The next afternoon I received a reply to my introduction and I was heartbroken. My mentor stated that due to my poor grammar and careless mistakes, she didn’t feel I was ready for the program and suggested I go to a community college to learn the basics.

Bewildered, I sat in my living room and pulled out my introduction packet. When I flipped to the second page my heart sank. My first assignment was to email my mentor an introductory message to share my background and plans for the course. The next day I received a correspondence from the program informing me I was no longer enrolled.

In disbelief I emailed the head of the program and explained my situation, his reply gave me hope and forever changed how I l viewed writing. He offered to assign me another mentor and give me another chance along with sage advice I’ve put in my writer’s toolbox.

“From this point on, you have to look at yourself as a professional writer. I don’t care if it’s a simple love letter to your sweetheart or a thank you card to a coworker, it needs to be polished, edited and proofread.”

Proofreading?

Writers are only as good as they are readers. Stephen King once noted, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Just saying that makes me cringe.

Sometimes it can feel like you’re just talking to yourself. After all, you already know what you said. Or do you? Do you think you know what you said or know what you said? You never know until you actually go back and reread what is written. That is my purpose for proofreading, but along the way you may notice other reasons why you need to proofread.

  • Spelling
  • Punctuation
  • Grammar
  • paragraph/sentence structure
  • content (did you say ever everything you wanted?)
  • content flow
  • contextual meanings (sometimes we say something in our heads and it comes out completely different in print)
  • is your voice present

Maybe it’s just my brain injury, but I hope I’m not the only one who’s, …

“Did I say that?”

Sometimes we know our message so well it’s what we see on a page even if it’s not what is actually there. Our brains hear it even when it’s not written. This is why it is important to get a second set of eyes to look over our writing (especially in my case).

Find readers who understand what you’re trying to say and let them give your work a look over. Family and friends are great, writer friends even better or better yet, a professional editor. They will let you know if they can hear your message clearly.

In the 21st-century, most writing programs and speech software like I use incorporate playback functions, this is another way we can make sure we hear our message:

  1. Microsoft Word: Speak text-to-speech feature
  2. Scrivener: Start Talking feature
  3. Pages: How to use text-to-speech
  4. Dragon Naturally Speaking: Playback Text-to-speech

Each of these features can help us better listen to what we are actually saying in our writing. However, they can never replace a professional writer’s need for proofreading.

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

Categories
Songwriting

Songwriting: Learning by Listening to The Masters

If you take a songwriting class, the first thing you will learn is to read the top 40 charts in your chosen genre, and then listen to the chart-topping songs over and over for analyzation and to get songwriting ideas. You will be encouraged to listen to similarities in all of the songs and watch for format.

If you are just starting out, there is nothing wrong with taking a shell of a song and then replacing the words with your own words. That is a great tool for learning how to write melodies rhythmically and formulating words together to fit a specific meter, but a bad idea if you are planning to publish the song—because you can get sued.

As a child, I learned by becoming a junior Weird Al Yankovic. I would take famous songs on the radio and change the words to something silly. And then I would perform them for my older sister and her friends and they thought I was hilarious. I dreamed of performing them for the world to see (too bad Youtube was not invented yet!)

If you are a musician, you start by learning theory, learning what chords go together, and then putting together a chord pattern to be a foundation for a lyrical melody. If you don’t play an instrument, you can guide your musical partner by verbally sharing your melody idea. A good place to start is by listening to songs in your genre and start dissecting the melody from the bare lyrics. What works? What doesn’t? As I mentioned in a previous article, sometimes it is easiest to start with a chorus, because that is what your song is about.

Like any bit of writing, you learn the most by watching others, dissecting their work to see why it works or why it doesn’t, and then implementing what you learn. Most recorded albums start from a pool of about thirty songs, and then are narrowed down to fourteen or less to sell to the public. And usually, the pool of thirty songs come from a songbook of about 100 songs scribbled in the writer’s songbook journal.

If you want to be a songwriter, write every single day. Keep a songwriter journal where you jot down your ideas, possible lyrics, melodies, themes, poems, etc. Your songs may suck at first. But writing every day is how you get better. Just like exercising your physical muscles, your growth comes from exercising your writing muscle. I usually write a notebook full of songs per year—most aren’t even complete. And sometimes I pull a Frankenstein where I take two or three songs I wrote and combine them.

When U2 wrote their hit song, Beautiful Day, they actually wrote another song using the exact same music, but with completely different lyrics and melody. Then they chose which melody and chorus they liked for the album best after listening to both versions over and over and over. The band Jars of Clay did the same thing on their If I Left the Zoo album. They made a bunch of demos with different melody lines and choruses. The final project was a culmination of taking the best part of the songs and re-writing the weakest part to improve the song or by creating Frankenstein, chopping up the best parts of two or three songs and adding them together to formulate one incredible song.

If you listen to Jars of Clay’s studio album, If I Left the Zoo, and then again listen to their limited demo album (if you can find it) called White Elephant Sessions, you will hear the same songs, but with different verses, choruses, or melodies. They are letting you in on their songwriting process. After the time slaved to write the physical songwriting portion and then playing the song at many rehearsals comes the recorded demo. Bands will listen to their demo a thousand times, get feedback, and then put the song in the hands of a polished producer to rewrite the song and record the final, polished version. Sometimes that version is an entirely different song from conception.

Whether you are writing songs, novels, or screenplays, the biggest key to survival is being fluid and giving yourself (and producers, editors, publishers, directors, agents, etc.) permission to let go and change what you have written to make it better.

Write it. Step away. Visit it again. Rewrite it. Step away. Rewrite it again.

Don’t marry your first version or first draft. That’s like marrying the first person you ever had a crush on, which may work, but more than not, it can be naïve and suicidal. I know both screenwriters and songwriters who lost a job because they wouldn’t give producers or directors flexibility to change their work.

Do you have a songwriting topic you would like me to discuss? Let me know at matthewhawkeldridge@yahoo.com! Get that songwriting journal and start writing!

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

Categories
Copywrite/Advertising

What Aretha Franklin Taught Me about Copywriting

When I heard that Aretha Franklin had passed away, I felt the urge to listen to her hits. After some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, I came across You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman). Aretha sings about her man and all the little things he does for her. All those little things add up to the big thing: how the man makes her feel. When it comes to love, that’s the main point: how a person makes you feel.

The same is true in copywriting. Yes, you describe a product or service in a blog post, email, website, or a social media post. But the company or product isn’t really the main thing. The main thing is how the customer or client feels.

I first came across this idea while listening to Donald Miller interviewed by Dave Ramsey. Donald Miller told business leaders that they are not the hero of their company. The customer is. Whatever a business is selling, it needs to be communicated by how it makes the customer the hero.

In his book, Building a Storybrand, Donald Miller says, “If we position our products and services as anything but an aid in helping people survive, thrive, be accepted, find love, achieve an aspirational identity, or bond with a tribe that will defend them physically and socially, good luck selling anything to anybody. These are the only things people care about.” And what are these things? Feelings.

The same concept applies to all kinds of writing, not just copywriting. William Kenower in his book Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write with Confidence puts it another way. Kenower says to writers: “you are a merchant dealing in emotion.” In a novel or a short story, there is an appropriate time to end in sadness or loss. The difference in copywriting is you are moving the reader from their negative feelings into the feelings of the hero. Feelings of triumph and belonging. Feelings of victory.

So what does this actually look like in copywriting?

Before I write anything about the business or product, I imagine how the reader feels. Why did they Google the topic I’m writing on? What problem do they have in their life? How does that problem make them feel? Then I write a few simple feelings statements at the top of my page so I can keep them in mind as I write.

For example, if I am writing about air conditioning repair, I think about what it feels like on a summer day when your air conditioning is on the fritz. I’m sweating. I’m frustrated. I’m afraid of how much it’ll cost. I am impatient—I want it fixed NOW! I jot down these feelings at the top of the page.

If I am writing for a senior living facility, it may be the children of the seniors that are reading what I’m writing. They are worried about their parent’s health and safety. They are stressed out caring for their job, their kids, and now having to take care of their parents, too. They might be in conflict with their parent since they are trying to talk them into to moving to a facility. They feel a burden of responsibility to do the right thing for their parent.

Once I have those feelings listed at the top of my page, then I describe the product, service, or topic from the writing assignment. Keeping those feelings of the reader at the top of the page guides me to describe the product or service with words that soothe the reader and enable them to be victorious over their situation.

Once I am finished describing the product or service, if the assignment calls for it, I end with a call to action that tells the reader what to do so that they can be the hero. Like “call to schedule an appointment so your family feels cool again” or “contact us to give your mom the best care possible.”

Lastly, I go back to the beginning feeling words and turn them into a short story, just one or two sentences long, that describes a situation that will sound familiar to the reader. This short story serves as a hook to grab the reader’s attention. It makes the reader say, “yes! That’s exactly how I feel!” so he will read on.

Writing copy with feeling takes more work than simply describing the product or service, but your copy will yield results that other copy doesn’t. And business owners notice when your copy is the most effective. Next time you write copy, picture your reader crooning like Aretha, “you make me feel…” Identify their needs. Make them the hero.

In addition to copywriting, Rachel Schmoyer writes about finding simple truth in complex parts of Scripture at readthehardparts.com. A pastor’s wife and a mom of four, she is involved in the children’s ministry in her local church. Rachel is represented by Michelle Lazeruk of WordWise Media. You can connect with Rachel on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Categories
Novelists Unwind

Novelists Unwind Interviews Heidi Chiavaroli and Bethany Turner

I’m excited to share two debut author interviews with you. Heidi Chiavaroli and I chatted a few months ago about her compelling time-slip novel. More recently Bethany Turner and I talked about her delightful romantic comedy. In between the two, the Novelists Unwind site got an update. Hope you like the new look!

Heidi Chiavaroli loves to seek out “places that whisper of historical secrets.” Her acclaimed debut time slip novel, Freedom’s Ring, is set in both Revolutionary War-era Boston and in contemporary Boston.

In our interview, Heidi talks about the fun and frustrations of writing one award-winning story with two very distinct heroines. Her latest book, The Hidden Side, released in May.

Bethany Turner writes romantic comedies a la You’ve Got Mail and While You Were Sleeping (two of my faves!). But within the breezy humor, pop culture references, and rollicking fun of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, Bethany delves into deep waters.

The Romantic Times Top Pick reviewer wrote: “The romance is both scorching-hot and completely appropriate, which is a difficult task to pull off, yet Turner does so amazingly.” Yes, she does!

The next Novelists Unwind Giveaway will be announced on Saturday, September 1st, at novelistsunwind.com. Be sure to enter for your chance to win a print edition of an amazing inspirational novel.

Meet Johnnie

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

Categories
Book Proposals

Your Overview Must Grab Attention

Editors are searching for good writing and submissions. How do they find it? Several years ago I asked another acquisitions editor how he finds a good submission. He told me the straight story saying,

“Terry, I read the first sentence and if it is a good sentence I read the next sentence. If it is a good paragraph, I read the next paragraph and if it is a good page, I read the next page.”

By implication, this editor revealed if it is a poor sentence or paragraph or page, he stops and goes on to the next submission. You can hear the full interview and other tips from this Christian acquisitions editor at: www.askandymcguire.com.

What is “good” is subjective but this editor showed me your best writing must be poured into the overview or opening of your proposal. If it is buried then the editor may never read that section.

“Don’t Bury the Lead” is a common instruction to new writers. Also this insight is taught in journalism schools. Literary agents and editors receive high volumes of email and physical submissions. If your prime material is over on page six, it may never be read.

There are many ways to capture positive attention from these professionals. Almost every element of a book proposal is important but every writer should give their opening paragraph a little bit of extra polish before sending it.

Here’s a number of ways to engage your reader:

  1. Begin with a startling statistic related to your book or yourself. If you have millions of potential readers for your topic, beginning with this statistic captures attention. Also if you have a large email list or a social media following, this statistic can kick start the reading process.
  2. Ask an intriguing question. A thought-provoking question is another great beginning to a proposal.
  3. Open with an engaging story. Everyone loves a moving story. If you can tell this story in a few words with intrigue or entertainment, you pull the editor or agent into your proposal.

Whatever method you use, it is important to get the editor or agent reading your submission. Writers have confided to me their key material in the eighth chapter. My advice: don’t do it. Your reader may never get there. Start the overview of your proposal with a bang.

Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written over 60 books and for more than 50 magazines including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Get his free Book Proposal Checklist at: terrylinks.com/bookcheck. Also Terry is the author of the bestselling Book Propoals That $ell which has over 130 Five Star reviews. Terry has discounted the book and has all of the remaining copies at: BookProposalsThatSell.com. He has over 220,000 followers on twitter. twitter.com/terrywhalin

Categories
Blogging Basics

24 Facebook Groups For Bloggers

As a blogger, you want to share your creative content and continue to learn and grow. One way to achieve both is to join blogging groups on Facebook. Some groups share content to help bloggers learn the craft of blogging. Other groups offer an opportunity to share your blogs to the members of their audience.

Joining a mix of both types of groups is a great combination for your blogging platform. Here is a list of blogging groups for you to choose from.

Definitions:

  1. For purposes of this article, a Group Facebook Thread is when a group administrator (admin) opens an opportunity for group members to post their blog. You cannot post outside these given opportunities.
  2. Free post – A group member can post anytime. No need to wait for the group admin to post an opportunity.

Learn The Craft of Blogging:

BE Blog Elevated Conference & Community, 1.7K members

BTR – Blogger’s + Instagram Community, 8K members (Blogging Tips & Thread Opportunities.)

Blogging For New Bloggers, 14.5K members (Blogging Tips & Thread Opportunities.)

Brilliant Content Creators, 2.7K members

IBA Open Group, 1.5K members (IBA =International Bloggers Association)

Inspired Bloggers Network, 12.1K members

 Post Content for Writers:

Are you an author and a blogger? Check out these groups:

Authors, Bloggers, Writers, Readers and Books, 16K

Books, Blogs, Readers & Writers, 63.6K members

Christian Bloggers/Writers Network, 2.8K members

Christian Blogger Café, 193 members

Christian Non-Fiction Writers, Bloggers, and Authors, 550 members

Christian Writers & Bloggers, 3.5K members

Other Groups

These are not book related groups, but you can free post your blogs and post by thread here:

Awesome Bloggers, 7.1K members

Blog + Biz Babes, 3.4K members

Blog Big, 946 members

Bloggers Supporting Bloggers, 31K members

Blogging Boost, 25K members

Blogging Lounge, 161 members

BlogHer, 1.7 K members

IBA Share Group, 1.5K members (IBA =International Bloggers Association)

Make Your Blog Beautiful, 3.6K members

Extra

Share Your Blog*, 8.8K members

Share Your Blog Post*, 13.5K members

*Posting in these groups can give you an international audience.

These are some of the groups you can join. In choosing a Facebook group, I use the following check list:

Activity – Are the group members actively posting? I have seen some groups without any activity for a month or more. Groups with more members have a higher likelihood of more frequent posts. Weekly or daily activity is preferred to receive consistent content and posting opportunities (threads).

Can Members Post – Does the group restrict members from posting? Some groups only allow the admins to post. In this case, decide the benefit of joining this group. If only for the educational benefit, it may be worth joining.

Check What Group Guidelines Allow – Can you promote your blog? Many groups allow posting on open threads only. Others allow for free posting of your blog. Be sure to check group guidelines before posting in any new group.

Is there a Facebook group you are a member of not on the list above? Share below. Let’s grow together.

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

Categories
Romancing Your Story

Getting Inside the Hero’s Head––Part I

Contrary to popular belief, the male is the key to any romance. The female is usually the “lead” character. The male, (alpha or beta) is the key to the romance. We’re not writing same-sex romantic fiction, here. If that’s your goal, you won’t get much out of this. [bctt tweet=”Most readers of romance are women. Women identify with the heroine of the story. A woman who just wants to be loved like the hero loves the heroine. #InsideHerosHead #donnalhsmith #almostanauthor #writingromance101″ username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”]

Continue reading “Getting Inside the Hero’s Head––Part I”
Categories
The Picky Pen

How to Think Like an Editor Part 2

Writing is a funny art because agents and editors (freelance and publishing house) tell us to write, write, write . . . and to make sure that our manuscript is edited well. “Edited well?” What if we don’t like the word editing because it’s too daunting? What if our minds turn to jelly or we seize up when an agent or mentor tells us to edit our manuscript?

Well. Editing doesn’t have to be so intimidating, daunting, or scary because it’s really another piece of the writing process. Before sending our manuscript to a freelance editor or mentor (or even critique group), we need to make sure that our manuscript is fluid. Simply, we edit to make sure our manuscript is ready for the public eye. How do we think like an editor when we aren’t one? I’ll give you some more tips on how to think like an editor. Ready?

Three More Rules for Thinking Like an Editor

4. Is the point of view clear in my story?

Who is doing the “seeing,” or telling the story, anyway? As a contest judge and having read over 100 books this year, an issue I see a lot is a wobbly point of view. And, granted, it’s so easy to overlook, especially since there are so many points of view we can use in our manuscripts. There’s first person, second person, third person, third person omniscient, omniscient, and—are you confused? Take heart. I was too before I really sat down with someone and they talked me through the differences, and then did some googling to make sure I really understood.

Best rule of thumb here: whichever character you choose to tell the story, that character must experience the story unfolding in those scenes. What does this mean? This means that that character you choose must see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, as well as perceive what’s going on in the current situation. If Mabel is your protagonist, you cannot describe Jacob tying his shoe when he’s behind Mabel because she cannot see what’s behind her. Now, she might be able to hear noises, and you can describe those. If there are too many people “talking,” the story gets muddled, and our readers won’t know who to root for.

5. Is my manuscript well researched?

Ew. Please don’t throw rotten tomatoes at me! While I realize not everyone enjoys research, it’s important for our books to be well researched. Why? Because if we use the word “bulbous” in our 1577 medieval fantasy manuscript or refer to saddle shoes in our 1929 novel, our knowledgeable readers may snap the book shut, and their investment in our story comes to an abrupt end. Or, if we have our character walking through a door before he’s opened it shows that we haven’t researched the sequence of the action. These may seem like unimportant details, however, small as they are, these details add credibility to yourself as an author—and makes you think like an editor. And it truly is the difference between the Victrola and an MP3.

6. Is the manuscript tightly written?

If you’re anything like me, I’m imagining a 300- or 500-page manuscript stuffed into a miniature straight jacket. Well . . . not quite. But that’s the idea. By “tightly written,” this means that every detail, dialogue, and plot thread in your manuscript connects to the overarching theme and overall message of your story.

For instance, if Sassy had not gone with Chance and Shadow (Disney’s Homeward Bound), that sarcastic element would not have made poor Chance’s misadventures humorous or empathetic; or if Shadow had had an elderly woman’s voice, he might not have been endearing to viewers. (I am not downgrading male or female voiceovers here.) The tired, old man voice fits Shadow’s personality, as well as the storyline.

Now let’s apply it to a sentence or two of writing. In these sentences, our character’s goal is to get from the house to the barn to play with the new baby goats that are a few weeks old.

Original:

Helen set the cup down on the table and scooted her chair back. She put on her jacket and headed out to the barn, where the tiny bleats sent a pitter patter through her chest.

Tight rewrite (keeping only necessary details for our character’s goal in this scene):

Helen set her cup on the table and scooted her chair back. As she shrugged into her jacket, she ran to the barn. Tiny bleats sent a pitter patter through her.

Did you catch the smaller details that were left out because they did not propel this scene forward?

Keep in mind that every author and editor has their own style, preferences, and idiosyncrasies for what they like in a story. The bottom line is to make sure your writing shows what is the most important for the story’s that on your heart. And if you write like an editor, you will have a much stronger story that creates a fabulous reading experience for your readers.

Please join in the discussion! I’d love to hear from you!

Take a few minutes and ruminate. What are some other ways you can think like an editor?

Tisha Martin is a writer and editor, and she lives to encourage authors and editors to bridge their relationships and work together for the publishing industry cause, where readers will treasure books for always. With a bachelor’s in Professional Writing, a master’s in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, she has equal passions for writing and editing. Active in ACFW and The PEN, she appreciates both communities. She is the former Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for professional editors. She’s also a judge for Writer’s Digest. When she’s not editing, Tisha blogs about writing, editing, theater, horses, and American home front history at www.tishamartin.com. She looks forward to the conversation with you!

Categories
Child's Craft

Nonfiction for Kids Is BIG!

In the publishing world nonfiction is a hot item at this time. For both children’s magazines and books (especially picture books) nonfiction has more publishing options than fiction. So, if you love research, writing nonfiction might be the way to go.

Current children’s magazines are always looking for great nonfiction pieces. But they must be well researched, well documented and well written. If you are an illustrator or photographer offering visuals with your magazine articles is a huge plus.

Whether for books or magazines however, there is one critical rule to always obey: 

Present only verifiable facts. Do not add any made-up conversations or situations to your nonfiction manuscripts. Adding such imaginary bits transform your manuscript from nonfiction to informational writing, or to historical or bibliographic fiction.

nonfiction for kids

TIPS

Many of the techniques we use in great fiction also make for great nonfiction. Here are a few tips:

  • Start with a blast—jump into the article with a true anecdote, amazing facts or questions.
  • Add humor—even heavy topics can become appealing by adding a little humor.
  • Surprise!—adding elements of surprise will keep our readers tuned in until the finish.
  • Zero in on the unusual—especially with familiar topics we need to keep researching deeper and deeper until we find something unique, brand new, curious or little-known about the subject of our article or book.
  • Use dynamic language—strong verbs and nouns, and a strong voice can make nonfiction just as riveting as fiction.

REMEMBER

  • Document all sources you use with complete bibliographic information. Photocopy the actual pages you use from magazines and books. Print out information you get from websites.
  • Avoid online information and encyclopedias, if possible. Emphasize facts you get from books on your subject.
  • Use the most recent research available.
  • Stick to verifiable FACTS.
  • No anthropomorphism.
  • If your research is boring to you, your article or book is going to bore readers. Choose subjects you find interesting.

DIG DEEPER

For tons of great information about writing nonfiction for kids check out these sources.

The Institute of Children’s Literature Podcasts also available FREE on iTunes.

SCBWI The Book for members of SCBWI.

Mentors for Rent  (searchable)

Nancy I. Sanders (searchable)

Evelyn B. Christensen

Creative Nonfiction

Celebrate Science “Behind the Books: Finding Photos for Nonfiction Books”

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

Categories
History in the Making

Electrifying Fiction

History in the making

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt along the wall for the light switch…

Or did she?

Depending on the time period and setting of this story, Ellen might need to grope around a small table for a match to light the kerosene lamp.

Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb in 1879, and by September 1882, he powered up the Pearl Street distribution center and distributed electricity to approximately 82 customers in Manhattan, New York. In 1893, electricity lit up the World’s Fair in Chicago. But it would not be advisable to rely on these tidbits of information to justify whether or not Ellen’s home had electricity.

electric lights

If Ellen lives in a city in the 1920s-30s, there’s a good chance the flick of a wall switch will light up the room. But if Ellen’s story is set in a period prior to the early years of the twentieth century, it is probable that some other source of light scattered the darkness when she arrived home.

Before launching our search, we should also determine a few other things about Ellen.

Does she enjoy the city life or live in a rural area?

Is she rich or poor?

Answers to these questions may make a difference in the type of lighting in Ellen’s home.

Our research list (whether through the Internet, the local library, newspaper archives, or other favorite resources we have developed ) might include:

  • History of the city and surrounding area where Ellen lives. (If the answer is quick and obvious, we can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to writing our story.)
  • History of Electricity, especially a timeline
  • Check out possible light sources:
    • Generators
    • Gas lighting
    • Kerosene lamps
    • Candles
    • Fireplace
  • A trip to the actual city or town can be invaluable overall, though probably not practical if made only to determine when power poles and lines were installed.

Stay focused. Unless we have the mind for it, following the progression of science in this area can be overwhelming and take us on unnecessary detours, robbing us of precious time to pursue our goal: writing.

Wrapping it up, be prepared for the possibility that your exploration will lead you to another research project:

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt around the table for a match…

They did have matches back then, didn’t they?

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

Categories
Write for His Glory

Magnets or Vacuum Cleaners?

One morning I asked the Lord for a verse reference.

Exodus 20:15 – Thou shalt not steal (KJV).

Really? Have I stolen something lately?

I pondered. Well…

  • I just took a picture of a page from a book and Tweeted it. But I gave credit to the author.
  • I haven’t taken any office supplies.
  • I give back extra change when I get it by mistake.
  • I use pictures from Bing Images in my blog posts. But I only use those labeled “free to share and use”.

So what was the Lord’s message?

I had no clue so I moved on with my morning. The verse must be something I need but maybe not at this moment.

As I logged on to my computer, random thoughts of things I admire about others came to mind. You know, those others who are popular in the writing world and have many good book reviews.

  • I like the way he responds on Twitter
  • I like the way she writes
  • I like the format of her blog
  • I like the way…

Wait, that’s it!

Vacuum Cleaners

Subconsciously, I not only appreciated the gifts of these people, I wanted to appropriate how they act and make it part of me. I wanted not only to learn from their methods, I wanted to be like them so I could be popular like they are.

I’ve been subconsciously stealing parts of them so I can have what they have.

No wonder I often find myself confused about who I am! I don’t look FIRST to my Creator, and thank Him for creating me exactly like me. I don’t boldly step out from the inside and go with what’s on my heart, in my own way, as the Lord leads. I measure what I’m about to do by what I think will be acceptable, or by whether or not anyone else has done it and succeeded.

No wonder I’m so worn out before I even get started. I’m worn out just thinking about it!

Magnets

Yes, we all need role models, and it’s good to learn from others. It’s also helpful to try, and then apply, practices that are proven successful. Truthfully, each of us is a product – and accumulation – of the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been, and the things we’ve experienced.

But first and foremost, we need to fill ourselves with Him alone instead of trying to take in what He never intends for us. Then, out of that relationship, we need to be fully who God created us to be and appreciate how He made us.

We need to be magnets, not vacuum cleaners.

Interesting picture, isn’t it?

Be thankful for the awesome person you are – the one God created and loves, warts and all – and step out into a very blessed day!

 

Mary Graziano Scro, a graduate of Christian Communicators Conference, is an inspirational author, speaker, and blogger who intuitively weaves analogies and personal testimony with practical biblical teaching. Whether “live” or at the keyboard, Mary loves sharing what God has done in her life to encourage others about the awesome life God has planned for us, IF we are willing to choose wisely in our everyday lives (John 8:31-32). And it’s not only about us – the more we invest in our own unique relationship with Jesus, the more visible He is to a world that desperately needs Him.

You can reach Mary on:

Facebook: Mary Graziano Scro
Twitter: @marygscro
LinkedIn: Mary Graziano Scro
Blogs: Life Is Not A Formula

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

It’s or Its?

Almost three years ago, I wrote a post about using apostrophes. If you want to read it, go here.  The explanation was supposed to help eradicate the wrong placement of the apostrophe. Admittedly, the it’s/its bit is buried in the middle. Maybe that’s why I keep seeing wrong apostrophes everywhere, even on boxes of tea!

 

This is the whole back of a box of tea.

 

This picture shows the first line of copy with the wrong word.

I almost didn’t buy the tea in protest, but I wanted to try the licorice flavor.

Using the correct word will be forever easy if you remember, it’s is a contraction for it is. That’s it, people. That’s why the copy on the back of the box–A legend in it’s own right–is, well, stupid. Sorry. I’m dealing in facts here.

The line really reads, “A legend in it is own right.”

Unless a sentence makes sense with it is for it’s, NO APOSTROPHE IS NEEDED. ADDING AN APOSTROPHE IS WRONG.

Good luck and happy writing!

 

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her publications include three novels Irish Encounter and Mars…With Venus Rising, and Rescued Hearts as well as nonfiction articles. A member of ACFW, RWA, and SinC, she writes for SeriousWriter.com. She and her husband live in North Carolina and enjoy visits with their two daughters and twin sons.

Author of Rescued Hearts
               Irish Encounter
              Mars…With Venus Rising
Visit Hope at www.hopetolerdougherty.com
Categories
My Writing Journey

Writing Like a “Tommy”

My writer’s journey began at age eight when I felt compelled to write a story about a turtle. For reasons that escape me today, I chose not to ask my mother, a voracious reader, how to spell “turtle.” I decided instead to research the correct spelling on my own. This was long before Google. In those days, massive tomes, brimming with facts, gave us answers.

My family owned a dictionary, but did I reach for it? Of course not. I was eight. I turned instead to a more familiar informational source: a coloring book that featured a turtle on one of the pages. As I recall, he stood upright on his hind legs (as cartoon turtles are wont to do) with a dreamy look on his face and a multi-layered sandwich in one “hand.” The caption that accompanied the illustration mentioned his lunch. It also included a word that began with the letter “T.”

To my eight-year-old mind, that T-word had to be “turtle.” What else could it represent? A turtle holding a sandwich stood prominently on the page, and “sandwich” starts with the letter “S.” With that information in hand, I penned my story. The author of the coloring book, however, played a cruel trick on me. The actual caption read, “Tommy enjoys his big sandwich.” That’s right. The first story I ever wrote was about a “tommy.” (What is a “tommy” you might ask? All I can say is it looks suspiciously like a cartoon turtle.) When my mistake was brought to my attention I felt mortified. A lesser author might have given it up and gone outside to play. I couldn’t. I had another reason for writing. I needed to feel I had some control over my life.

I grew up, as many of us have, with an alcoholic father. Dad also came from a generation that believed if the man provided for his family with a roof, clothes and food, he had done his job. Nothing more was required. Research today disagrees.

My two siblings and I chose different ways of coping with our dysfunctional family. My older sister withdrew. My younger brother acted out. I, the middle child, yearned. I yearned to be cherished by a father. I yearned to find order out of chaos.

The Greatest Father of all found me, heard and answered my prayer in the most subtle of ways. He whispered into my child’s ear, “Write.” So I did.

As the years passed I kept at my craft. Loving father/daughter relationships became a common theme in my writing. My middle grade novel, I Almost Love You, Eddie Clegg, published by Peachtree Publishers, features a thirteen-year-old protagonist who develops a father/daughter relationship with her stepfather. Currently, I’m working on a novella for an adult audience with an unorthodox father/daughter relationship between unrelated characters that help each other overcome separate traumas.

When I needed a loving father, the one from above gave me the gift of creativity. It is my hope to honor His name with future writing endeavors.

Aud Supplee is a dialog-loving writer and avid reader. Life, laughter and love give her writing inspiration. She enjoys running slides at her church, horses, jogging and yoga. While conquering a fear of horses, she wrote about the Power of W.H.O.A. (Widen your comfort zone; Harness your inner strength; Open up to new opportunities; Achieve your dreams). You can find her on Facebook and Instagram. Her website is under reconstruction and a blog is forthcoming.

Categories
The Poet's Pen

Numbered Poems

This month I thought we might do something different and fun. I want you to write an 81 word poem with one word on the first line, two words on the second line, three words on the third line and so forth. You will end up with 17 lines total. The lines can rhyme or not. It doesn’t matter. Your poem should tell a story or give us a glimpse into something.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOG AND CAT

Dog (1)
has fleas (2)
making him itchy (3)
causing him to bark, (4)
and bark, bark, and bark (5)
only after playing in the hay (6)
and then chasing Cat up a tree. (7)
When night comes you’ll find Dog and Cat (8)
snuggled with each other under the soft comfy covers (9)
dreaming of bones, and mice, and goodies galore. (8)
And as the new day breaks early, (7)
Dog stretches and yawns, Cat purrs (6)
both ready to go out (5)
and start everything over (4)
again and again. (3)
Dog has (2)
fleas (1)

There’s no end to the variations you can do with this: Alternating the number of words per line. 6,7,8,1,2,3,6,7,8 You get the idea.

Email me your poems. I would love to share them on my website.

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

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap Featuring Movies About Writers and Tom Blubaugh

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

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

Movies and Books about Writers: Writers Chat Open Mic

The secret is out! Writers like their heroes and heroines to be writers, too! In our latest open mic, we share favorite books and movies featuring writers, including recent releases such as The Man Who Invented Christmas and Goodbye, Christopher Robin, and older faves such as Finding Forrester, The Man of La Mancha, and Midnight in Paris. See if some of your favorites made the list.

Watch the July 31st replay.

Looking for new movies to add to your watch list? Discover more from the Show Notes and Live Chat discussion.

Show Notes and Live Chat Link

Authors Community with Tom Blubaugh

The journey to publication can be difficult without a good network of people behind you. Learn from CEO Tom Blubaugh how Authors Community can point you down the path that will take your writing from hobby to profession.

Check out the August 7th replay.

Tom Blubaugh is married to Barbara Holmes. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren. He spent his childhood in a small town in southeast KS.

Tom began writing poetry at age fourteen. He has written nonfiction most of his adult life.

Tom self-published Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry (1974); has written articles for denominational and business magazines (1975 – 1995); co-wrote The Great Adventure under contract for Barbour Publishing Co. (2009); wrote his first fiction Night of the Cossack–published by Bound by Faith Publishers (2011); and is a guest writer in several books. He has been a public speaker for 40 years.

Tom was a self-employed financial planner (1973 – 1995).  He is the past president and a past board of director’s member of Jericho Commission, Inc.; is the past chaplain of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 952, in Springfield, MO; and is the past manager/moderator of the Google+ Christian Authors Community; CEO of Common Sense Marketing Strategies LLC, Tom Blubaugh Literary Strategist LLC, Authors Community, eBookChristian.com and Genesis Project International. He ministers to the homeless and addicts through his life experiences and blog articles.

Learn more from Tom and Authors Community via the Show Notes and Live Chat Links.

Show Notes and Live Chat Link

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: zoom.us/j/4074198133.

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

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

Categories
Uncategorized

Deadlines and Follow-up for Freelance Writers

If you want to impress an editor as freelance writer, I’ll let you in on a little writer secret. Meet your deadline with excellent writing. While it sounds too simple, writers are notoriously late to meet their deadlines. If you meet or even deliver the  article ahead of the deadline with excellent writing, you will stand out from the other writers.

In the “old” days, writers used to be able to fudge a little on the deadline. Without an internet, we had to mail our articles on disks to the editor. When the editor asked about the article, you could say, “My article is in the mail” and sometimes gain an extra couple of days to deliver the piece. Now with high-speed broadband, those excuses do not work. The editor expects the freelancer to send their material on time.

 Excellent Writing Is Appreciated

Editors have been trained to recognize excellent writing for their publication. Does your article have a great beginning paragraph that draws me into the article? Does it have a solid middle with detailed information targeted to the reader? Does it end with a single point or takeaway for the reader? If you can answer each of these questions with “yes” then you have probably written a solid article for the publication.

Also make sure you write your article several days before it is due, then you can leave  the article and return to it with fresh eyes. Pick up a pencil as you read the article fresh and make any adjustments that is needed.

Follow-up Is Important

In our tech driven world, we have grown dependent on email for our communication. Yet email doesn’t always get through or get answered. Today I remembered an article I had turned in for a publication yet the editor never responded. It had been 10 days with no response—which is long enough for that editor to have been on vacation and be back at their desk. I sent a short follow-up email with the article to make sure they got it. You can follow this same pattern if you don’t hear from the editor. A simple reminder asking if they got the submission is professional and acknowledging that things get missed in the process. It also shows the editor you want to deliver excellent work in a timely fashion. The key with your follow-up is to ask straightforward and polite questions with short emails. Editors spend a lot of time answering emails so in general the short emails get answered.

 

As you meet the editor’s deadlines with excellent writing, you will become a part of their stable of writers. These writers have proven their dependability and are the go-to people that the editor uses when they need to assign a feature or special writing  assignment. It’s a select group and you want to be part of this elite group.

To write for Christian magazines, you need to be pitching ideas through query letters and writing full length articles then reaching out and connecting with new editors and new markets. As you take consistent action to meet deadlines with quality writing, you will be published in multiple publications.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. Terry is the author of How to Succeed As An Article Writer which you can get at: http://writeamagazinearticle.com/. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin

Categories
Publishing Pulse

Beware of Purported “Trends” in Christian Publishing

Every time I read an article from Publisher’s Weekly about trends in Christian publishing, especially fiction, I find myself stifling a sarcastic laugh.

First of all, I don’t have that many articles to choose from, because PW appears to publish just one article on Christian fiction trends per year, in May. (My comments concern last year’s article; this year, in May, they had an article about a “Fiction Readers Summit” held by Baker Book House, rather than a review of the market.) This once-a-year market review seems a bit odd to me, considering that Christian books make up about a third of the total book  industry. (Disclaimer here: that statistic may be a bit old, but if you change that from “Christian” to “religious” books, I’m sure it’s still valid.)

But the infrequency of the market review is not what gets me chuckling; it’s some of the “trends” that PW reported last year, such as “Amish [romance] fiction remains popular.” Really? In my contacts with acquisition editors, there doesn’t seem to be interest in more titles in this genre, though well-known, established authors of Amish fiction still seem to be cranking out new titles. The conventional wisdom is that the Amish craze peaked a long time ago, and acquisition editors generally follow conventional wisdom, because it’s usually right.

PW also made a big deal about Christian romance fiction in general, yet my reading of the market indicates that, while still a viable subcategory, romance no longer dominates Christian fiction in the way it did years ago—but you sure wouldn’t know it from this article. There was some discussion of the popularity of other genres, suh as Christian suspense and adventure, including political thrillers, but I was surprised that there was little mention of speculative fiction, a genre that appeared to be growing last year (though it may now be on the wane now, for all I know).

Of course, I’m probably being a little too hard on Publishers Weekly, considering that their article on trends was looking at what had been published by May of 2017. The trends they were identifying appeared to be based on looking back at 2016. Still, their comments seemed more dated than that. Oddly enough, at the end of the story they announced some titles that were scheduled to come out in the spring of 2018. Why did they not look for genre trends in those upcoming titles?

It only highlights the problem a Christian author has when looking at trends—it’s something you don’t want to take too seriously. Not only is the information almost always dated (a published book may have been acquired up to two years previously), but it is pretty much irrelevant. In the publishing world, acquisition editors have the unenviable task of having to guess as to what topics and genres are going to be “hot” two years from now. Since they can’t read the future, they can only speculate—rolling the dice, you might say.

It’s a waste of time, therefore, for a Christian author to try to catch the wave of a new publishing trend; by the time you write the book, prepare a proposal, sell it to a publisher, and it gets out there in the market, the “trend” is going to be long gone. Even if you decide to write the book extremely quickly and self-publish, it’s bound to take six months or so — even more, if you you take into account the months it can take to publicize, promote and market the book. If you time it right, you just might catch the tail end of such a trend, if at all.

Do I dare to suggest that you ignore elusive “trends” and ask God what he would have you write about? Get your advice on trends from the only person who actually does know the future! It’s really the only sure way to stay ahead of the ever-changing Christian publishing market.

David E. Fessenden

Literary Agent, WordWise Media Services

Publisher and Proprietor, Honeycomb House Publishing LLC

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

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

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

Websites/Blogs:
www.fromconcepttocontract.com
www.davefessenden.com
www.thebookstore.info

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Cracks in the Porcelain

A recent purchase of a new tea cup taught me a lesson about fragile beauty when I discovered a crack in the porcelain.

I couldn’t wait to have my first cup of English Breakfast tea in that beautiful vessel. The smoothness of the china beckoned my fingers to swirl around the edges and I imagined the lovely hue of the tea leaves leaving behind an inviting and invigorating start to my day. It seemed perfect.

It also made me excited that I’d purchased the lone cup from a clearance shelf in a popular Bath and Bed shop. Always on the hunt for a bargain, I treasured this piece of porcelain that appeared to be a worthy find.

When I poured the boiling water over the teabag, however, I noticed the tea began to ooze out onto the kitchen counter. I realized all too soon, there was a thin crack in the cup. Once the tea was inside it, the break in its beauty became visible.

I thought how our hopes and dreams as writers can be like buying that porcelain cup with a crack rather than enjoying our morning brew in simpler mugs. That china cup I bought appeared to be so perfect, promising moments of satisfying brew that would surpass the enjoyment of drinking from my Fiesta ware. In fact, my usual cup—less ornate and refined—turned out to be the dependable vessel. The one I could count on to brew that tea and sustain my need for caffeine. And we all know wordsmiths thrive on caffeine!

Ever since I’ve been a writer, I’ve seen and heard the idea that the biggest publishing houses with big contracts are the best way to publish. Some believe it’s the only way to publish—the ultimate goal. And there’s nothing at all wrong with “reaching for the stars,” as it were. But what about the wonderful contracts with the smaller publishers? What about the alternative ways to publish in the 21st century that have opened up opportunities for authors to get their words in print? Are not these venues to publishing a golden opportunity for many?

I encourage each writer to pray that the Lord leads you to the perfect “cup,” whatever that vessel might be. Always seek His best goal for you. Don’t miss an opportunity to publish with a smaller house in your quest for “success.” Sometimes what we view as success might have hidden cracks.

 

Elaine Marie Cooper is the award-winning author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany’s Calendar. Her latest release (Saratoga Letters) was finalist in Historical Romance in both the Selah Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She penned the three-book Deer Run Saga and has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. She freely admits to being a history geek. Look for her upcoming series set in Revolutionary War Connecticut. The 4-book series is entitled Dawn of America. You can visit her site at www.elainemariecooper.com

Categories
Guest Posts

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.