Categories
Uncategorized

Prepare Yourself

“I will prepare and one day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln

Much of life is about preparation. Before bed, I make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. I keep an ongoing list on the fridge of what items we need from the store. This summer I began a “Christmas file,” where I save unexpected money that comes in to get ready for Christmas shopping.

I occasionally sing for events. When I sang last week for a local ministry, I pulled out my notebook of lyrics and tracks ready for such an occasion.

Near the end of each month, I start making a list of what needs to be purchased the next month for our church’s ministry.

When I find a good illustration, I file it away to be used at an opportune time in my sermons or writing.

The Bible talks about the meticulous work and preparation of one of God’s smallest creatures: the ant. Proverbs 6 says, “Go to the ant . . . ; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (6-8).

These amazing creatures understand that great tasks are accomplished one grain of sand at a time. Near summer’s end, my backyard abounds with large fire ant hills. Amazingly, these monstrous creations are made by individual ants moving one piece of sand at a time. They achieve their goals by taking repeated small steps. They embrace small steps knowing that they will lead to the big goal.

We live in a day of instant gratification. With instant oatmeal, fast food, and internet shopping, we want healthy relationships, toned bodies, and deep spirituality to occur quickly.

As writers, we go to a conference and want to quickly produce the latest and greatest American novel. We return home hoping to win the next award, land a big agent, attract 1000 readers to our blog, or land a three-digit contract. And we want it to all happen before we return to the conference next year.
Quick-fixes may happen in video games and fairy tales, but they seldom occur in real life.

The wise person, instead, takes the long-range view of life and then practices discipline regularly.
Do I want to write a book in the next year? What am I doing this week to make that happen in small, incremental steps? Do I hope to put into practice something I learned at a conference? What if I sit down for one hour this weekend and review my notes and set some practical goals for the next month?
In life, opportunities tend to be seized and realized by prepared people.

There was a saying in the Revolutionary War that rings true: “Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.”  In other words, prepare myself.

Sometimes we need to stop hoping and start moving sand, one piece at a time.

Categories
Romancing Your Story

CONTEST OR NOT TO CONTEST? PART ONE

If you read my last column, you’ll know we determined that most fictional stories contain some element of romance. That is very fundamental as I talk to you about contests. There is quite a bit of debate in the writing world as to whether entering a contest is worth the money, time, and possible rejection of your work. I will state right up front that I believe they are worth your time and effort, published or non-published.

 

NOTE: Coming from a purely romantic and fictional world, I can only speak on fictional contests. I don’t write non-fiction nor do I have a blog, both of which I believe do have contests available. I cannot help you with the logistics of them, though I hope the end results are the same.

 

This month I would like to share personal and positive experiences I myself have had with contests, solely to show you why I believe in them.

 

In 1995, I wrote my first book, a Regency, and though it was perfectly acceptable to me as I was writing it for my own entertainment, family and friends urged me to seek out publishing. (That is when you really seek out people who will read your work and tell you the absolute truth about it!) Quite by accident I discovered a very small writing contest by a very small group of writers in my genre. The only reason I entered was that the winning entry would be given the opportunity to send the full manuscript to a very iconic editor of a very large publishing company.

 

Do you think I am going to say I won it? I did not. But at that time in my “career” I got what I needed most – feedback. Each judge had used the same standards for every entry they received. I got their copies of the scoring sheets, with comments, encouragement, suggestions, and problems – galore! Oh, there were many more problems than encouragement but the suggestions made me look at the story a whole new way. And the negative comments made me look even harder.

 

(This lovely little contest is also where I got the best advice I have ever received in critique; shall I tell you? READ WHAT YOU’VE WRITTEN OUT LOUD TO YOURSELF BEFORE YOU EVER SEND IT ANYWHERE! My dear friends, if you don’t do this, start. I’m talking cover to cover if it is ten pages or 300. You will “hear” when words sound out of order, when there is not enough or too much emotion, when the same word is used twice in the same sentence; I could go on and on, and this is really more for next week’s article. I just had to share to show you one of the advantages of contests!)

 

We left off with my poor little manuscript and me deciding whether to put it out of its misery or keep it. I kept it. Flash forward to 2004. My husband found my box of manuscripts (from 20 years ago) and I rewrote that sad little story using twenty years of life experience I did not have the first time and using several of the comments from that little contest. Then I went out into the publishing world to see if I fit.

 

That book, my debut, was not only published, but won the 2011 Romantic Times Reader’s Choice award and the Holt Medallion award for Best Book by a Virginia Author!

 

Was it all because of the contest so long ago? Of course, not. It was an answer to my prayer, wondering what in the world I was doing. It was being led by God to a wonderful, supportive agent (who BTW also sent it out to five random readers as a beta group who sent me an additional 5 sets of critiques!) And ultimately, it was God’s perfect timing with an editor who wanted the story.

 

Please, please do not think I am bragging. You have no idea how many “thanks, but no thanks” we heard or “can the author say it in 70,000 words as opposed to the 100,000 words submitted?” Or a million other walls we hit first. My point is that if I hadn’t submitted that original unpublished manuscript to that little contest, I would never have received all of the feedback, which I still use today. And if I hadn’t entered the published book into the ten or so contests I had learned about, I would have lost out on the opportunity to put “Award Winning Author” after my name – forever! (Can anyone say PERK?)

 

But you know what I also received, almost equally as valuable? The scoring sheets on the eight contests I didn’t win. And do you know what I’ve done with those? I used them in writing my second and third books, and, hopefully, in books to come.

 

I’d love to hear about your contest experience! Let me know below and we can talk about them. Be sure to tune in next month when I will go over the logistics, and costs, as well as where you can find contests that might be just the one for you.

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Quick Rules for Using Hyphens and Dashes

A hyphen is a type of punctuation linking words that form one idea to avoid confusion. Here are a few simple rules to follow when using hyphens:

  1. Use hyphens in numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine
  1. Use hyphens with ages that are used as adjectives.

Thomas babysat the two-year-old boy. (Yes.)

The boy in the swing is two years old. (No hyphen.)

 

  1. Use hyphens when the compound adjective comes before the noun.

The custom-built alarm clock won the science award. (Yes.)

Teddy’s alarm clock was custom built. (No hyphen.)

 

  1. Hyphens are also used in the following example when words are repeated:

Runners will compete in the 3-, 6-, and 10-mile events.

 

  1. Use hyphens with prefixes and words that have a capital letter.

The article is decidedly pro-American.

 

  1. Use hyphens when joining letters and words.

We studied an s-shaped curve in economics.

 

  1. Use hyphens with prefixes.

My ex-boss just friended me on Facebook.

An em dash works similarly to a set of parentheses. It allows a break from the main sentence for an additional thought. You form it by adding two hyphens together.

Cam ignored the feeling—whether disappointment or relief—coursing through her.

Hyphens and dashes, although similar in look, have different uses in sentences. For additional details about both kinds of punctuation, check the AP Manual of Style, the Chicago Manual of Style, or the Oxford Dictionaries.

Categories
Truth Be Told

With the Right Bait

Truth Not Lies Board Showing Honesty

I was browsing my local paper and right in the middle of the classified section I spied this teaser:

With the right bait…you can catch anything!

Truth be told: what works in advertising works for devotions, too.

Grabbing the reader’s attention depends on a well baited hook. And a good fisher knows which hook and bait to use based on the fish they hope to catch.

I had a group critique several of my devotions and I quickly saw how different hooks and bait catch different fish.

One devotion likened our all-out enthusiasm for God to a baseball player stealing home. The women in the crowd swam right by, but the one man in the group felt like someone saw he was there and he took the bait to his soul’s delight.

As a pastor, I want a devotion that takes me to a deeper place, so hook me with the name of a noted theologian or even a definition from the original Bible language.

My husband doesn’t use worms when he fishes. He prefers leftover macaroni and cheese. He says the fish like it because it’s unusual, it grabs their attention, and it tastes good.

 

1

So who do you want to catch?

You can catch anything with right bait.

 

Categories
Write Justified

If I’ve Said It Once…

To paraphrase that wise king Solomon, “There’s a time and place for everything.” For writers, that includes repetition, despite the oft-heard advice to avoid needless repetition. Just to be clear, there’s a difference between repetition and redundancy. Redundancy is needless repetition; it serves no point. [bctt tweet=”Repetition, well placed and appropriately used, provides emphasis, creates emotion, strengthens your writing and makes it memorable.”]

Several literary devices employ a specific type of repetition. Although their names may not be familiar to you (they weren’t to me), it’s quite possible you’ve encountered the technique in your reading and probably used it in your writing.

Anadiplosis is Latin for “repetition of an initial word.” Repeating the last word of a clause or phrase near the beginning of the next is anadiplosis. These verses from the apostle Peter’s second letter illustrate:

“……… you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love” (II Peter 1:5 – 7).

The repetition emphasizes and reinforces the writer’s point. In this case, Peter is showing how these spiritual disciplines are connected. It’s not possible to produce one fruit of the Spirit without the others following.

And for a less sublime, but equally effective use of anadiplosis, you need look no further than DirectTV’s 2012 ad touting the disastrous results for those who opt out of their cable TV service:

“When your cable company keeps you on hold, you get angry. When you get angry, you go blow off steam. When you go blow off steam, accidents happen. When accidents happen, you get an eye patch. When you get an eye patch, people think you’re tough. When people think you’re tough, people want to see how tough. And when people want to see how tough, you wake up in a roadside ditch. Don’t wake up in a roadside ditch: Get rid of cable and upgrade to DIRECTV”

Anaphora, a literary device with roots in the psalms, is the repetition of the first word or words in a series of successive phrases. This device is useful for building to a climax and achieving an emotional effect. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is an example of accomplishing just that. One classical scholar has compared anaphora to “a series of hammer blows in which the repetition of the word both connects and reinforces the successive thoughts.”

Sara Thebarge uses anaphora effectively in a recent blog about working in a missionary hospital in Africa.

“I cried because my heart aches for the families who lost their loved ones.  I cried because I’m spent — I don’t feel well, and after being up on my feet working all day, I feel even worse.  I cried because so much has gone into building and running this hospital, and yet some days, it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Notice how repeating “I cried” becomes so much more than a physical act, but reveals Sara’s heart.

Antistrophe (also called epistrophe) is the exact opposite of anaphora. Here the repetition occurs at the end of each successive clause, phrase, or sentence.

If you’ve ever been called to witness at a trial you’ve recited an antistrophe when you promised “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” This may be a case where having heard that oath so often it no longer carries the weight it once did. But repeating a word or series of words at the end of a construction is good way to emphasize a point. It also has the effect making a statement more memorable.

Abraham Lincoln, a great rhetorician as well as revered president, used both anaphora and antistrophe effectively in the Gettysburg Address.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground.

And

…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

It bears repeating, well-placed, well-used repetition is persuasive. Like any good thing, overdone it loses its impact.

Categories
Specs: Speculative Fiction

Worlds of the Complex Nature

Worlds of the Complex Nature

So we’ve got a great story idea, and we’ve got two great characters now we need a world…

Let’s begin with the basics

I’ve been told there are two ways to go about writing a story world.

  • Outside In
  • Inside Out

[bctt tweet=”Are you Inside Out or Outside In? #teenwriter #worldbuilding”]

    Both are correct, and it’s all preference. (I’d like to begin with point 2. ‘Cuz…why not?)

Inside Out

To put it simply it’s the exploration and discovery of your world in your writing. There’s no drawing board, no brain storm, no intense game plan needed for this style of world building. You start small and expand. Start with your character, and as she or he lives life, your world will begin to shape and take form. You’ll end up coming back and adding to it, but as you do it’ll get fuller and richer.

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“The quintessence of life…So full and…rich?”
—the Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Outside In

With this approach you’ve really got to love planning. You create a world, and understand it, long before you ever place your precious character in it through writing. Nothing is a surprise to you. You start big and detailed then work your way in. I met a guy at the Realm Makers conference I went to this year, and he was really cool. He enjoyed creating and defining his worlds by drawing his own maps of them. I’m not much of a planner myself, but I think that knowing your world well enough to recognize it on a map is great for any style of world building. Eventually, I would even venture to say it’s essential.

Now there will be a quiz at the end, so I hope you’re all paying attention.

Basic Stuff

No matter which of these styles you prefer, there are some basics that are necessary for any universe. You should have a government and common religion. You have to ask yourself, Is you’re world a safe place and how many intelligent races (at present) are in it? Is there a world history or has it been lost to the ages and humanity’s fate is in the hands of your characters. These are important for you to know, because they’re your story, and they really define your world.

A few questions you can ask yourself to really kick your world into gear are:

  • What do your government and religions look like?
  • How does government affect it?
  • How do the religious systems affect your land?
  • What do people wear?
  • What do people eat?
  • How does your natural world (landscape and climate) affect your character’s culture?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you weren’t paying attention.

winner

        This is how worlds are birthed and nurtured.

[bctt tweet=”This is how worlds are birthed and nurtured. #fantasy #makeaworld “]

Quiz Time!

1 + 1= ?

Thanks for playing! Extra credit if you comment below, and share your thoughts, questions, or concerns.

Alser…I just wanna say if you need some incredible inspiration for a fantasy landscape, I highly suggest clicking through the link to google images.

So that’s how I see things through my lenses, how do you see things through yours?

Thanks to Adrian Scottow and Barabasi_Istvan for the unaltered images.

Categories
Developing Your Writer's Voice

How Many Words Should You Write Per Day?

I’m not sure how he did it, but the late Michael Crichton supposedly wrote 10,000 words a day, which is the equivalent of about 40 pages. His keyboard must have been on fire by day’s end.

But don’t be discouraged by such examples of insane productivity. His output is pretty unusual.

This leads to one of the most common questions that I hear: “How much do you write per day?” But before I answer that, I should state the obvious. There is no single approach to setting writing goals. For example, some people (such as “Almost An Author” founder Kyle Young) are binge writers, sitting down to write dozens of pages at a time, but with no established daily goal.

I am the opposite. If I am going to binge, I’d rather do it with ice cream than words.

I aim for a target word count each day, and then work to meet it, six days a week. I make room for a Sabbath rest because if God saw the need to rest after six days of creation, I figure I should push the pause button at least one day per week.

There is no right or wrong between the two approaches—binge writing or setting a steady daily goal—just as long as you meet two things. First, you need to meet your deadlines, and secondly you should allow yourself time for editing. If you are a binge writer and you wait until the last minute before a manuscript is due to binge on the final 20,000 words, chances are you have not allowed yourself enough time to edit. But if you give yourself enough time to polish up your stories, then binge away.

But if you’re like me, and you prefer to set a daily goal, how many words per day should you aim for?

My target is 1,000 words per day, which translates into roughly four pages (double spaced) per day. If I can maintain that pace, I can write 6,000 words, or about 24 pages, per week. It’s not a hard and fast rule, however. Sometimes I write less, especially when I’m doing research—an important part of writing historical novels. But when I’m on a roll, I can write more than 6,000 words per week, especially when I’m into the home stretch on a novel. As the novel picks up speed and races for the climactic ending, so does my writing pace.

Because I do other writing in addition to working on novels, such as feature stories for the University of Illinois, I try to get in my 1,000 words before noon—although if I have time later in the afternoon, I might try to get in some bonus words. (By the way, I’m not counting my university writing as part of my 1,000 words per day.)

While I was working on my last novel, I was inspired to boost my word count after reading Stephen King’s book, On Writing. He said he aimed for 2,000 words per day, and he usually got it done by 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. So, just to see if I could do it, I tried to boost my output to 2,000 words per day as I moved into the final stages of the novel. And I actually succeeded…for a brief period, at least.

I’m now back to about 1,000 words per day. Sorry, Stephen.

I was at a writer’s conference this year where one of the teachers listed the daily word counts of well-known authors, and their word counts ranged from 500 words per day (Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene) to the whopping 10,000 per day of Michael Crichton.

Here are some other examples from the list:

  • Arthur Conan Doyle: 3,000 words
  • Norman Mailer: 3,000
  • Anthony Trollope: 3,000
  • Nicholas Sparks: 2,000
  • Jack London: 1,500
  • Mark Twain: 1,400
  • Lisa See: 1,000
  • Somerset Maugham: 1,000
  • Shelby Foote: 500

As you can see, there is a wide variation. So find out what works for you, and don’t feel locked into the daily routine. Some days you might need to do extra research or outlining, and your word count for those days might be zero. A daily word count keeps you disciplined and focused, but don’t let it shackle you. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” and the same is true for word counts. “The word count was made for the writer, not the writer for the word count.”

However, if you are a person who has a difficult time finishing a manuscript, a daily word goal might be just what the doctor ordered to keep you on target. A daily goal could help to push you over the hill that writers often face when they’re stuck in the mushy middle of a story,

Then again, you can always do what comedian Steven Wright does if you’re having trouble getting inspired to write:

“I’m writing a book,” Wright said. “I’ve got the page numbers done.”

* * * 

5 for Writing

  1. Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.
  2. Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.
  3. Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.
  4. Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.
  5. Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.

 

 

 

Categories
Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

How Your Diary Holds the Key in Discovering Your Writer’s Style

Graphic Courtesy of Keep.comA writer’s voice is the unique personality of the writer that comes through on the written page, defining his work. An often-asked question is whether a writer’s style is the same thing as his voice. The answer is no.

A writer’s style is the way in which he structures sentences; the pattern in which his words are written. Components of style are the length of the sentences, diction, tone and length of paragraphs.

A somewhat surprising tool for discovering your writer’s voice and style is your juvenile diary. Below are two examples of these early writings; exaggerated here for style comparison.

Stark

Diary, yesterday I went to the mall. I bought a dress. Mary was there.

Ornate

Dearest Diary,

I ventured to the mall in the last light of the day. I purchased a dress with a gossamer over-skirt that will make Robbie compare me to a princess. I will sit his picture on my bedside table and hopefully dream of him until dawn breaks.

The writer’s style was different in each example. The stark example’s sentences are simple and sparse. The ornate example has long, flowing sentences.

Do you have your teenage diary, the one you kept under lock and key? If so, take a trip down memory lane with the  distinct purpose of discovering your writer’s style. This early diary was unedited which allowed your authentic writer’s voice to shine through.

If you don’t have your treasured diary, compare a piece you wrote a year ago to a recent effort. Does a pattern emerge…do you recognize your writing style?

“The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time.” Raymond Chandler

 

Image courtesy of www.keep.com

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

The Comfort Zone Two-Step

I attend a small church in a rural area. We have contemporary worship and are probably more “progressive” than many places in our area, but we’re still a country church at heart. This weekend I attended an event in my old college town, and this morning I went to church there with my son.

This church was . . . well, different. First of all, it was held in a school gym, with a “theater in the round” set-up in the middle of the gym floor. The music was even more contemporary than my home church, and two of the musicians were wearing beanie-style toboggans (if I tried that, I would BURN SLAP UP). Huge video monitors surrounded the stage catching all of the action, and the lighting reminded me of a concert. The associate pastor took to the makeshift pulpit for offering time, and he was wearing an old ball cap and a flannel shirt, looking like he was getting ready to work in the garden.

I had that Dorothy Gale feeling that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore, Toto. But here’s the deal: I enjoyed the service, and, as we say at home, I got a blessing from it.

Early on in the service, I realized it didn’t matter about the venue or the style of music or the ministry leaders’ fashion choices. I had to open my heart to the real reason I was there—to worship, to connect with the Lord. As long as my heart was ready, I could receive.

Isn’t it the same with reading and writing? Sometimes we have to step out of our genre or style and try something new.

A few years ago, I decided to get outside my comfort zone as a reader. It all started when I followed a blog that featured a popular Christian suspense writer.

I have a confession to make: when it comes to reading and entertainment, I am the biggest chicken you can imagine. Suspense and horror are just not my cup of tea. I’ve seen one horror movie in my lifetime, when I was 13, and that was quite enough for me, thank you very much.

The blog was offering an advance reader copy of the author’s soon-to-be-released novel, so I went out on a limb and signed up for one. After all, I never pass up a free book. When it arrived in the mail, I thought, how nice, and left it alone. I’d walk by it often, move it from place to place, avoiding actually opening the book. Slowly but surely, I worked up my courage to begin reading. I would read, get scared, and walk away. This cycle continued until the wonderful, suspenseful writing pulled me in. The book became hard to put down, until about an hour before bedtime each night, when I would watch a couple of episodes of The Brady Bunch or I Love Lucy, for good measure.

I finally finished the book and pronounced it “good.” I enjoyed the plotting, the characters, and the subtle yet evident faith message and even wrote a positive review for the blog.

I wasn’t totally converted, but that experience did lead me to read many other genres, including contemporary romance, Amish romance, chick-lit, adventure, western, and more. I’ve even attempted writing—with varying degrees of success—in different genres, trying to broaden my horizons. My experimentation paid off when, even though I have always loved writing humor, my first major publication was a serious essay.

The lesson I learned at the hip, new church is applicable to reading and writing: opening your heart to new things can lead to God’s blessings. He made different churches and different styles of writing to reach different people. So let’s do the Comfort Zone Two-Step! Who knows how God will use us when we try something new?

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire.

Writers: Be Prepared for These Questions

The writing-life doesn’t look like other career-fields. A lot of what we do happens when we’re home alone or in a corner of the local Starbucks. We keep strange hours. We write every day for hours at a stretch or we work in snatches of time on the weekends. We write on the back of napkins and across the front of church bulletins. Our brains never shut down.

We’re an odd lot to those around us.

Here are a few of my favorite questions…

 

So, what do you do?

I had to take a sword to a few doubts and insecurities, but I got to a place where I could verbalize my life’s calling without stuttering, “Well, actually, um…I’m sort of like…a writer.”

I’m not sure why the journey to admitting writer-hood is so difficult. I mean, I’ve never asked someone what they did for a living and they came back with, “Well, um…I’m kind of a doctor.” Or, “I’m…well, I’m trying to be…um, an architect.”

So, let’s get this question settled in our minds. Are we writers? Great. Then we must be able to say it—with confidence.

I. Am. A. Writer.

 

When are you going to write a novel?

Now, if I’m a novelist, this is an easy one. I plug my latest work or give a teaser about my work-in-progress.

But I’m not a novelist. At this point, my brain doesn’t work that way.

For example, when I witness a child throwing a tantrum in the grocery store, my mind shifts into overdrive: Wow. That rascal is really pitching one. His poor mother. Hmm…kind of like me, huh Lord? I may look calm on the outside, but inside I’m throwing a tantrum—rebelling—against Your plans and purposes.

Or I see a drama sketch unfolding…what if the Pastor starts his message, and we have a child “pitch one” beside the pulpit. We could add scripture and talk about the condition of our hearts…

These are my writing instincts. What are yours? However you are wired, your role in the writing world is vital.

Novelists are real writers. So are those who write devotionals, skits, short stories, biographies, articles, etc.

No more feeling like we don’t “measure up.”

Practice this: “I write devotional material (or short fiction, or children’s books, or…).

 

Is it wonderful to stay home and not work?

Fantasy answer #1—“Yes, it is wonderful. I love, love, love it. The words flow, the publishers snap them up, and my bank account grows. Life. Is. Good.”

Fantasy answer #2—“Not work? Are you kidding me? I agonized over an article for hours yesterday. I edited until my eyes crossed. I woke up at 2 a.m. with an idea that I had to get on paper. I’m under two deadlines and want to finish a proposal…”

Better/safer answer—“Actually, I’m a writer and I work from home. I am challenged and fulfilled and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

 

What’s your favorite writer-question? How do you respond?

 

[bctt tweet=”However you are wired, your role in the writing world is vital. #writerlife #amwriting”]

[bctt tweet=”Are we writers? Great. Then we must be able to say it—with confidence. #writerlife #amwriting “]

Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

5 Ways to Keep Your Poetry Simple

Simplicity is extremely valuable when it comes to communicating through poetry. I’ve always wanted my poems to positively impact the reader rather than turn them away.

From my experience, here are five things to keep in mind as you craft your own poems that will allow readers to appreciate them fully.

1: Relatable Subject

First, choose a recognizable subject that will resonate with your audience. If the reader can relate to the subject, he or she will appreciate the poem that much more. Many poets, if not all, write from the unique inspirations of everyday life. Example

2 : Simple Language

You might be tempted to use academic words or jargon in poetry, but I recommend that you do this sparingly and only for a certain effect, such as humor or reverence. Your ideas can still be complex, and you should use unique words and phrases. Just make sure your poem on the whole is decipherable. Example

3: Comprehensible Message

What meaning do you want to convey through your poetry? Whatever it is, try to make sure that it fits our common experience. People understand themes such as beauty, death, joy and disappointment. Choosing a simple message will make sure that the reader “gets it.” Example

4: Clear Imagery

Every poet should use figurative language and poetic devices to create imagery and mood in their poetry. That’s where the true complexity and skill comes into play. Whatever techniques you use should create easily visualized images that touch one or more of the five senses. Example

5: Familiar References

Allusion is a powerful poetic tool, but it can often leave the reader confused. If you make references, try to allude to people, places, events, etc… for which most of your readers will have some knowledge. If you make an obscure reference, the readers might miss the entire point. Example

Knowing Your Audience

Most of these suggestions have to do with knowing your audience. As you consider these ideas, also keep in mind your readers. If they will understand academic vocabulary, obscure subjects and references and extraordinary topics, then by all means use them.

Warning: Simplicity Doesn’t Mean Easy

[bctt tweet=”If it’s too easy to write, then you probably didn’t try hard enough. #writers #poets”]

I want to be very clear about what I mean by keeping poetry simple.

When writing poetry using my suggestions, you may be tempted to simplify the techniques. For example, forcing rhyme in a poem at the expense of your diction (word choice). Or using clichés instead of coming up with original similes, metaphors, etc…

Be reminded that writing poetry shouldn’t be an easy task for you, the poet. It takes much skill to craft a commendable poem that resonates with a reader. If it’s too easy to write, then you probably didn’t try hard enough.

Just saying.

Because poetry is an art, we want it to be worthy of appreciation as well as accessible to the world. We want our readers to understand it, but not oversimplify it so it loses its aesthetic value.

And I’m not suggesting that you should never write poems that have mystery and depth—both add value to poetry.

I simply believe that the complexity should mostly challenge the poet rather than the reader.

Do you have any other suggestions for writing understandable poetry? Tell me below.

[bctt tweet=”Let the complexity of poetry challenge the poet rather than the reader. #poets #poetry “]

Categories
WARFARE!

Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks, Part 1

I recently read a headline that jumped off the page to me: “Can a GOP So Divided by Anger Actually Govern in Washington?” What a sobering question! Many elected officials come to Washington full of ideas on how to fight for their causes. But too often, when “fighting for” a cause becomes “fighting against” anyone who doesn’t believe like they do, the noble purpose of the cause is lost in a mountain of anger, judgment, and strife. Nobody wins.

The same thing is true for the Church, Jesus’s Bride. Whether sharing about biblical principles, gifts of the Spirit, or the Bible as it relates to cultural events, our words “for” Jesus and truth can quickly become a judgment “against” those who don’t agree with us. Our life-giving message can be lost because of an emotional, angry or finger-pointing delivery at those who we feel are wrong.

In both cases, out of the heart the mouth speaks.

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart. (Luke 6:45, AMP)

We can become prideful, self-righteous, or offended when our opinion is not accepted. Every impure, fleshy heart attitude shows up in the tone of our words. Sometimes our need to be right trumps the original goal of encouraging others toward what we believe…and as Christians, toward truth. We forget that we are all equal at the end of the day – we all can be equally wrong or equally right at any given moment depending on what we’ve learned and experienced to date. And, that our own opinions are just that, and subject to change as we learn more.

out of the heart the mouth speaksTo clarify, it’s OK to expose lies, wrong doctrine, and sinful behavior; but it’s never OK to write an angry message against someone who believes differently; or to judge their motives. Out of the heart the mouth speaks, so we must first check our own motives.

When exposing lies or sin, our role is to respectfully and lovingly write truth as we understand it so the Holy Spirit can use our words to convict the reader. If, instead, we judge the wrong-doer or criticize them, the enemy can quickly turn our words into condemnation.

How can we self-check our writing to see if it is ready for public consumption? Stay tuned for Part 2…

[bctt tweet=”Out of the heart the mouth speaks, so we must first check our own motives.”]

Categories
Talking Character

Drilling to the Core of a Character

Photo Credit: The Knowles Gallery via Compfight cc

Fictional characters are like onions; they are made of many layers.  A writer must peel back the layers to reveal the core of a character.

The outermost layers include demographics, career, and other information that paints a generic picture: A young, unmarried carpenter named Brandon who lives in suburb of Chicago.

Peel back a few layers and the information begins to get more specific: Brandon played football in high school, works out at the gym, specializes in furniture, and takes care of his younger brother and sister because their parents are dead. With this level of information Brandon is starting to become a unique person with a bit of backstory, but there are deeper truths that have yet to be revealed.

If a writer wants truly well-developed characters, she must drill through layer after layer until she arrives at the core. To get there a writer must keep asking why about the decisions she’s already made until she gets to the bottom of things. For example, why does Brandon go to the gym? Because he wants to stay in shape. Why? Because he wants to take care of himself, but also because he is responsible for his siblings. If we keep drilling along this line of logic we eventually discover that one of Brandon’s core values is the need to protect those he loves. He is willing to sacrifice his religious convictions, his career, or his own happiness in order to protect his loved ones.

That’s the kind of deep truth you can build a story around.

Understanding a character’s core values will inform how they behave in whatever situation you put them in. Or, as Kevin Daum writes at Inc.com:

 …your personal core values are there to guide behavior and choice. Get them right and you’ll be swift and focused in your decision-making, with clear direction. Get them wrong or leave them ambiguous, and you’ll constantly wonder how you got into this mess.

That same truth applies to fictional characters. Understanding the core values of a character will make the writing process smoother.

[bctt tweet=”Do you know your character’s core values? #amwriting”]

How do you know when you’ve reached the core?

Core values are a character’s non-negotiables, the beliefs, needs or truths that form the bedrock of who they are. Core values are things like integrity, the importance of money, and a need for acceptance. Ask what this character will give anything to have or achieve and you’ve identified which values lie at his core.

This post on How Morals and Basic Needs Influence a Character’s Strengths has a great description of how to unearth core values. For more help identifying specific character traits, check out The Positive Trait Thesaurus, and its companion The Negative Trait Thesaurus.

Peeling back the layers to discover your character’s core values is worth the time and effort. Maybe it’s time you tried it.

[bctt tweet=”Drilling to the core values leads to more believable characters and a better story. #writetip”]

Categories
Craft The Writer's PenCase

Putting Fire in Your Fiction—Part I

fire-2When drafting your novel, then self-editing, go back and determine whether or not any given scene moves the story along and how important it is. Your novel is only as good as your write it. Prepare your novel for publication while improving your craft. I can’t remember how many scenes I actually cut from “Meghan’s Choice.” I learned a lot about how to decide whether a scene was important enough to keep. #amwriting #fireinfiction

Continue reading “Putting Fire in Your Fiction—Part I”
Categories
Bestsellers

Children’s Writing 101: Five Common Misconceptions by Michelle Medlock Adams

 

Every time I teach “Writing for Children” at a writers’ conference or teach a “Children’s Writing 101” class at a university, I am asked some of the same questions so I’ve decided to address five of the most common myths surrounding this genre.

They say “the truth shall set you free,” so get ready to experience some freedom in this blog. J

Number one:

  • MYTH: Writing books for children is much easier than writing books for adults.
  • TRUTH: Good writing is tough no matter what genre we’re talking about; however, writing for children can be one of the most difficult to master and one of the most difficult to break into—but you can do it!

MORE TO PONDER…

*You have to say a lot in so few words—must make every single word count!

*You must be selective in word choice so that each word matches grade level. (Get a copy of the “Children’s Writer’s Word Book” by Alijandra Mogilner, published by Writer’s Digest Books.)

*It’s highly competitive! (The average national publisher receives 6,000 -15,000 unsolicited manuscripts a year, and of those, they publish 2-3. The rest of the books they publish come from agents, from authors they’re already publishing, and from other authors they meet at conferences.) But, you can do it!!! J

*I recently read an interview with a children’s book editor at Bloomsbury Children’s Books in NYC and the interviewer asked her, “Is there really a slush pile? If so, how many manuscripts would you estimate are in it?”

She replied, “It is many piles. It is huge! And I have no idea—maybe a thousand manuscripts in it.”

Then she was asked, “What percentage of manuscripts from the slush pile do you estimate get published?”

She answered, “Less than 1 percent but that’s still a real number—we get thousands of submission a year, and every year, we find one or two great things in it.”

So, you could be in that 1 percent!

FAST STATS: GOOD NEWS!!

E-books are giving children’s writers more opportunities to publish their work! In fact, 11 million parents have purchased an e-book and 19.6 million parents plan to buy an e-book in the future, according to recent stats.

Number two:

  • MYTH: Children’s stories should always teach a lesson.
  • TRUTH: Children (as well as children’s book editors) dislike preachy books.

MORE TO PONDER…

*Good children’s books usually have a message woven throughout the text, but the story is what drives the text. Of course…there is an exception to every rule. J

*Good example…Veggie Tales books teach good morals, but they are fun, silly and kid-friendly while doing so!

INTERESTING FACTOID…

Want to see a list of best-selling children’s books? Read this article at: http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/the-50-best-books-for-kids?cmpid=ppcaw-Kids-Books

online.

Number three:

  •  MYTH: The adult in the story should solve the problem.
  • TRUTH: Actually, any adult in the story is simply a sidekick. The main character must

be the child, and that child must solve the problem. He can certainly take advice from an

adult, but the child needs to do the problem solving.

MORE TO PONDER…

*Through our books, we want to empower the child, not tell the child that an adult must always solve every problem. We want to instill the message of “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—in a sneaky, funny, kid-friendly way!

Number four:

  •  MYTH: After I write my children’s story, I need to find an illustrator to illustrate my story before submitting it anywhere.
  • TRUTH: Unless you are a professional artist yourself, it’s not wise to send pictures with your manuscripts. In fact, it might even hurt your chances for publication.

MORE TO PONDER…

*The editor might really love your words but despise the artwork that your sister did to accompany each page. Her yucky artwork could nix the whole deal for you.

*Editors at publishing houses already have a list of talented illustrators that they love to use, so let them choose your artist.

*Especially if you’re a first-time children’s author, the publisher will try to pair you with a better-known illustrator to improve your chances for better book sales.

Number five:

  • MYTH: Writing my book in rhyme will give my book a better chance.
  • TRUTH: Actually, it could hurt your story’s publication chances. Some editors despise rhyme because they receive so many poorly written rhyming books; therefore,they are prejudiced AGAINST rhyme. However, if you can write rhyme well, go for it!

MORE TO PONDER…

*FYI: I have sold more than 40 children’s books to publishers such as Zonderkidz, Simon & Schuster, Ideals Children’s Books and Concordia, and all but my non-fiction library books are written in rhyme! J

*Rhyme isn’t a crime, as some editors would have you think— it sells well! (Just get yourself a rhyming dictionary for help!)

 

 

Categories
Child's Craft

Picture Book Submissions – The Powerful Proposal

Apparently this is a controversial issue – To submit a children’s Proposal with your manuscript or not? I always do. The editors can choose to read it or not, but I submit it, unless the Market Guide for a publisher states specifically not to submit a proposal. I will share with you what I learned at a conference from Christine Tangvald, back in the early 2000s, who has had a gazillion children’s books published. I figured if it worked for her, then I would do exactly what she did. I have not learned anything different through the years, it has worked for me, so this is how I still submit.

I don’t use the same form of proposals as is encouraged for adult books. Those seem to be more in paragraph form. Children’s Proposals are shorter, more precise with bullet points and sub-headings, and to the point. If you are an editor and prefer receiving children’s manuscripts in a different form, please mention it below. We’d love to submit the format you hope to receive, especially if it has changed in the last 20 years.

Here is a sample of a proposal and a short description of what each section may look like. Number the pages, with the exception of the first page, in the header right corner. In the header left corner put your last name and brief title. Use Times Roman Numeral 12 point font. Let’s use a purse theme and call it For the love of Purses.

In header: Lord/purses

Top left corner

Single spaced

Name/address/phone

email/website

 

(start this about 1/2 way down)

For the Love of Purses

Proposal

By Jill Roman Lord

 

Proposal: A Picture book for girls celebrating a child’s passion for purses that becomes a passion for sharing. (In one sentence tell what your book is about)

Purpose:

  • Bullet points here.
  • What point do you hope to make?
  • What impression do you want this book to make?
  • Any lessons you hope will come across?
    • For example – to demonstrate a girl’s passion for purses
    • To exemplify the joy of having a passion
    • To demonstrate a girl going ‘overboard’ in her passion
    • To serve as an illustration of a girl sharing her passion with others less fortunate
    • To exemplify the joy in giving and sharing
    • To encourage girls to reach out to others in need
    • To encourage girls to share their passions
  • Hopefully you get the idea – not too many but enough to state your purpose.

Target Market:

  • Girls ages 4-8
  • Girls who love purses
  • Girls learning to share with others in need
  • Get as specific as you can… All girls is too broad.
  • Not too specific as to shrink your market too small.

Special Features:

  • What makes your book stand out? List them here.
  • Written in delightful rhyme
  • Scripture verse at the end
  • List of charitable organizations at the end to which children may donate items
  • Template for making purses with items around the house
  • Apps for children wanting to sell purses
  • Whatever creative idea you come up with to help your book ‘rock’!

Specifications:

  • 750 words (shows your word count is within this publishers target range)
  • Written as a 32 pages book (flexible) – always be flexible here, but let them know you’ve thought it out
  • Colorful pictures on each page
  • Any other specifics here…

Comparisons:

  • Do your homework and see what other books are already published similar to yours and list them here, but don’t slam them as theirs is published and yours isn’t, yet…
  • Mention how yours is different. Briefly. Editors don’t have time to read too much detail.
  • Clifford’s Big Red Purse – List author, publisher, date: Story illustrating a big red dog and his love for his new purse. Written in prose. For the Love of Purses is written in rhyme and also demonstrates a love of purses but takes the reader further into sharing this passion with others.
  • Next one, etc.
  • Not an eternal list but enough to show it’s a popular topic but why yours should also be published.

Credentials:

  • Any published work?
  • Start with most recent and work down to oldest
  • Important accomplishments related to your manuscript
  • Won award for starting collection of purses to send overseas
  • Articles published or number of articles if you’ve written a ton
  • This is the place to let them know you’re the one to write this book
  • Not the place to mention your high school summer work at Walmart, unless of course you were manager of women’s/girls purses.

And that’s it. This is not the one and only way to submit, but I learned this method from a professional at a writer’s conference and it has worked for me. Again, if you are an agent or editor and prefer different submissions please let us know! Spend time on this, do your homework, and make it powerful and make it sparkle!

Categories
Specs: Speculative Fiction

Worlds of the Complex Nature

Worlds of the Complex Nature

    So we’ve got a great story idea, and we’ve got two great characters now we need a world…

    Let’s begin with the basics

    I’ve been told there are two ways to go about writing a story world.

  • Outside In
  • Inside Out

Both are correct, and it’s all preference. (I’d like to begin with point 2. ‘Cuz…why not?)

winner

Inside Out

    To put it simply it’s the exploration and discovery of your world in your writing. There’s no drawing board, no brain storm, no intense game plan needed for this style of world building. You start small and expand. Start with your character, and as she or he lives life, your world will begin to shape and take form. You’ll end up coming back and adding to it, but as you do it’ll get fuller and richer.

“The quintessence of life…So full and…rich?”
—the Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Outside In

    With this approach you’ve really got to love planning. You create a world, and understand it, long before you ever place your precious character in it through writing. Nothing is a surprise to you. You start big and detailed then work your way in. I met a guy at the Realm Makers conference I went to this year, and he was really cool. He enjoyed creating and defining his worlds by drawing his own maps of them. I’m not much of a planner myself, but I think that knowing your world well enough to recognize it on a map is great for any style of world building. Eventually, I would even venture to say it’s essential.

    Now there will be a quiz at the end, so I hope you’re all paying attention.

[bctt tweet=”Are you an inside out or a outside in kid of writer? #Storyworld #teenwriters “]

Basic Stuff

    No matter which of these styles you prefer, there are some basics that are necessary for any universe. You should have a government and common religion. You have to ask yourself, Is you’re world a safe place and how many intelligent races (at present) are in it? Is there a world history or has it been lost to the ages and humanity’s fate is in the hands of your characters. These are important for you to know, because they’re your story, and they really define your world.

    A few questions you can ask yourself to really kick your world into gear are:

  • What do your government and religions look like?
  • How does government affect it?
  • How do the religious systems affect your land?
  • What do people wear?
  • What do people eat?
  • How does your natural world (landscape and climate) affect your character’s culture?

    If you answered yes to any of these questions then you weren’t paying attention.

    This is how worlds are birthed and nurtured.

Quiz Time!

    1 + 1= ?

    Thanks for playing! Extra credit if you comment below, and share your thoughts, questions, or concerns.

    So that’s how I see things through my lenses, how do you see things through yours?

Categories
Heart Lift

If I Only Had an “Always Learning” Brain

If I Only Had a Brain

“No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.”
― L. Frank Baum, The Lost Princess of Oz

Janell Rardon Heart LiftGreat writing makes us think. Makes us look in the mirror of our own lives, oftentimes seeing ourselves in the reflection.

That is exactly what L. Frank Baum and his brilliant work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, does to me. With the insights of a high-powered fashion designer, he clothes each and everyone of his character’s with layers of warm-and-fuzzy, tough-and-tender and lofty-and-loving life lessons.

If I Only Had a Brain

Meet the Scarecrow. To the naked eye, he’s just a silly, lanky pile of straw dressed in farmer’s clothes.

But with each line of Baum’s writing, we find out more and more. That seeming senseless scarecrow had one driving intention: to have a brain. Over and over again, he cries out, “If I only had a brain.”

[bctt tweet=”Great writers make us think about our own lives.”]

Writing Well Requires an “Always Learning” Brain

You must write every single day of your life…You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads… may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.”
― Ray Bradbury

Writing well, in my humble opinion, requires an “always learning” brain.  Almost every day I wear a beautiful necklace I found on Etsy that reads, “Ancora Imparo,” which translates, “I am always learning.” While researching for my first book, I read that Michelangelo, at the ripe age of 81, was heard saying, “I am always learning.” Stunned by this fact, I remember thinking, “How on earth did a man who painted with angelic brushes and chiseled with heaven’s hands feel that he still had more to learn?”
I couldn’t help but think, “If Michelangelo felt that way, shouldn’t I?”

If I Only Had a Brain

Three Simple Little Ways to Cultivate a Teachable, Always Learning Brain

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”
-Meister Eckhart

A teachable spirit is inherent in some, but to others it must be acquired.

I like to think I am teachable, but just in case I forget or get too big for my britches, I take
the ceremonious time every morning to put those words around my neck, as if my day’s productivity relied on it. I lay the palm of my hand over it, repeating a quiet prayer. When the day is done, I repeat the ritual, silently thanking God for Michelangelo’s words and for the courage and strength given to put them into practice.

As writers, we have to keep learning and growing and opening our hearts to the endless possibilities
that exist for our lives. The craft demands it from us. Sometimes it is a labor of love, sometimes it makes us crazy and sometimes we want to quit altogether. But, we can’t. Like the scarecrow, we have to pick up the hay, restuff ourselves, and keep on moving towards Oz.

[bctt tweet=”As writers, we have to keep learning and growing and opening our hearts to the endless possibilities of more.”]

Thanks to Mr. Baum and his lanky scarecrow, I’m offering three simple little ways to cultivate a teachable, always learning brain today:

  1. Wake up with a prayer on your lips, “Ancora Imparo, Lord, ancora imparo. Help me learn one new thing today that will help me become the writer you designed me to be.”
  2. Amid the controlled and oft-uncontrolled chaos of the day, breathe in something creative. Somehow. Some way. Somewhere.
  3. Don’t go it alone. Dorothy needed the scarecrow. The scarecrow needed Dorothy. We are built for community. When and if possible, try to attend a writer’s workshop, either in-person or online. Creativity flourishes in these synergistic environments.

[bctt tweet=”Three simple ways to cultivate a teachable, always learning brain.”]

Signature

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

5 Common Writing Mistakes by Teen Writers

[bctt tweet=”#TeenWriters: To avoid weak writing, check your book for these common mistakes #writingtips@tessaemilyhall “]

Teen writers: You’re entering an industry filled with experienced writers—people who have been on this journey for decades.

If you want to avoid coming across as an amateur, check your manuscript for these 5 common mistakes made by teen writers:

      1. Not enough sensory details

When I write a first draft, I focus on the dialogue and action, recording the “movie” as it plays in my mind. Thus, my first draft is really my book’s skeleton.

As a beginning teen writer, I neglected to breathe life into my scenes by incorporating the five senses. During my rewrites of Purple Moon, I printed out the entire manuscript, then highlighted the areas that could use sensory details.

Sensory details are important because . . .

– They keep readers grounded in a scene

– They allow readers to experience the journey along with the protagonist

– They “fool” the reader into believing the story is real

– They add color to the black-and-white pages of a manuscript

      2. “Telling” instead of “showing”

Readers don’t want to be told a story; they want to live a story. Authors should convince the reader they are the main character. (Sounds schizophrenic, doesn’t it?)

For instance:

Rachel was embarrassed because a group of girls starred at her.

Can you feel Rachel’s embarrassment, see the group of girls, or understand why she was embarrassed? Not at all.

Rewrite it in a way that brings the reader into the scene:

Heat flooded Rachel’s cheeks. A group of girls huddled next to the lockers, whispering and snickering, their eyes burning holes through Rachel. What was she thinking? Rachel knew she shouldn’t have worn the Christmas sweater Grandmother bought her. 

Notice I didn’t name the emotion in that version, yet it’s obvious Rachel is embarrassed, and we know why she is, too.

When it comes to showing vs. telling, ask yourself . . .

– Why does my character feel this emotion?

– What does she see? Hear? Taste? Smell? Feel?

– What is her physical response or body language?

– What is her thought process?

Don’t tell the reader what happens; let them experience it.

      3. Overuse of exclamation marks

She couldn’t believe her eyes!

What do I do!

Overuse of exclamation marks scream amateur! That’s because they drain power of what is being emphasized. It’s as if the author is trying to tell the reader, this is how she’s thinking it! Or, this is how extreme the action is!

In other words: They tell rather than show.

Plus, they are awfully distracting. It reminds the reader that the story isn’t real.

Instead, show the emphasis through body language, action, emotions, etc. Allow the reader to catch onto the exclamation without having to be told what is being exclaimed.

      4. Lacking story-structure

Since my stories are character-focused, I used to write scenes that weren’t related to the story’s plot. Sure, these scenes could have actually occurred in my main character’s day-to-day life, but they didn’t push the story forward or deepen characterization.   

Every book needs to have story-structure, and every scene needs to directly relate with that structure.

Think of your book like a movie. Then, go back and cut any scene that slows down the pace.

Ask yourself: What is the purpose of this scene? Does it push the story forward?

      5. Overuse of adverbs and adjectives

In elementary school, I was taught to incorporate as many adjectives and adverbs into my stories as possible.

My writing sounded like this:

The big, fat, yellow sun shined brightly against the light blue sky.

Colorful, isn’t it? And yet, sometimes those colors are the very things that distract the reader from the story. My agent puts it this way: “…too much description makes the colors all bleed together.”

Nowadays, adjectives and adverbs are lazy. They tell the action, emotion, scenery, etc. instead of allowing the reader to experience it.

But didn’t books use adverbs and adjectives in the old days?

Yes. But we’re not still making black and white movies anymore, are we? We’ve improved our technology and have discovered new—better—ways of capturing film.

Same with books. We’ve discovered ways to write that invite the reader to delve deeper into the story.

Just like exclamation points, overusing adverbs and adjectives are a form of telling rather than showing.

Replace them with strong verbs and nouns. This will help the reader picture the scene for themselves rather than be told how to picture it.

For instance:

She quickly ran up the stairs.

This tells us how she ran up the steps. Replace it with a strong verb, such as:

She hurried up the stairs.

She rushed up the stairs.

The adverb isn’t necessary in those sentences. Plus, the verbs convey a much stronger sense of action, don’t you think?

Which of these mistakes are hardest for you to overcome? Any you’d like to add to this list?

[bctt tweet=”5 Common Writing Mistakes by #TeenWriters @tessaemilyhall #writingtips #amwriting”]

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour Stop – Hope Toler Dougherty

[author title=”Hope Toler Dougherty” image=”http://www.almostanauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/toler-275×275.jpg”]Before writing novels, Hope Toler Dougherty published non-fiction articles on topics ranging from gardening with children and environmental awareness to writing apprehension. A native North Carolinian, she likes cheering with her husband, Kevin, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC basketball, and Army West Point Football. Things that make her happy include her four children, writing and receiving real mail, cooking, reading, books, book stores, book clubs, used book sales, libraries, crocheting, and traveling. Things that make her sad include washing dishes, de-cluttering, dusting, sweeping, mopping…[/author]

What is the title of your latest book?

Mars…With Venus Rising

Tell us more about your book:

A meddling horse, paper bag floors and a flying saucer on the town square. The little town of Mars has it all—including a brand new resident who might spell heartache for one of its own.

Twenty-something Penn Davenport yearns for an exciting life in the big city and wants to shed the label of orphan that she’s worn for years. To achieve that dream, she must pass the CPA exam then move away from the two aunts who reared her after her parents died in a plane crash.
When John Townsend—full of life and the joy of living—moves to town, he rattles Penn’s view of herself, her life, and her dreams…which isn’t such a bad thing until she falls for him…and discovers he’s a pilot.

Why do you write what you do?:

My writing journey has certainly been a God-thing. Although I always wanted to write a book, I never dreamed I’d be writing Christian love stories. God wooed my onto this path with my debut novel, Irish Encounter, six years ago, and I’ve trying to walk in obedience ever since.

What are you currently working on?:

Right now, I’m trying to fix some problems in my third story, a romantic suspense set in North Carolina. It has a kidnapping, guns, and a car chase. I began my fourth manuscript this summer. It tells the story of Josie and Ches, a man who is struggling to break free from his father’s vision of his future.

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

My first novel, Irish Encounter, is different than other works because it’s partially set in Galway, Ireland. That location made finding a publishing home difficult. Now I’m seeing more novels set in foreign locations, a good thing. I like to use humor in all my stories along with themes of reconciliation, redemption, and hope.

How does your writing process work?:

I try to write every day. I always pray for wisdom, direction, and words.

When I’m writing the first draft, my goal is to write at least fifteen hundred words a day, Monday through Friday. I use Scrivener, so it’s easy to set up smaller goals of five hundred words. That way I can enjoy a sense of achievement sooner rather than later.

In the first draft, I try not to worry about perfect words or dressing for the scenes. I write a lot of talking heads. I just try to get the main story down. If I listen to much to my internal editor, I get bogged down and write even more slowly than normal. During subsequent drafts, I add dialog tags and the five senses.

Social Media and Blog:

http://hopetolerdougherty.com/

https://www.facebook.com/hope.t.dougherty
https://twitter.com/HopeTDougherty
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty
https://www.pinterest.com/hopetdougherty/

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Mars-Venus-Rising-Toler-Dougherty/dp/1611164982/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Where Do Writers Find Free Pictures?

Links to sites that contain high-quality, free pictures available on the web. Great resource for your next writing project.

It’s a struggle authors frequently have. We write an article or blog post, and then comes the dreaded question, “Where do I find a picture for my piece?”

The unspoken hope is that the image will not only be free but also interesting and of high quality. Oh, and could we could make this whole process easy? Absolutely. Today’s post will tell you how.

Here are two ways to get great pictures for your writing:

#1 Create Your Own

Programs like Canva and PicMonkey are fairly easy to learn and will let you create an image from scratch or modify a picture you already have. Both are free, although each has paid elements that may be useful.

  • Canva.com – This program has both free and paid picture options. Pay pictures are clearly marked and are usually only $1. Canva’s text overlays are pre-formatted in interesting styles, allowing the using to simply add their own words.
  • PicMonkey.com – Pay features allow you access to a larger number of fonts and editing features, although the base features are quite extensive. Note: PicMonkey does not provide basic pictures but does allow you to use shapes, textures, and graphics to create a background image for text to be placed on the top.
  • For examples of what can be created with both of these programs, check out fellow A3 writer Meaghan Burnett’s article Creating Free Graphics or Memes for Authors.

#2 Find Images on Free Picture Websites

Yes, free picture websites with quality images can be found. Some require an acknowledgement for the photographer. Many do not. Be sure to read the FAQ and About sections for each site so you know how it operates.

  • Pixabay.com – This is my go-to site. Pixabay has a wide range of interesting pictures on a variety of topics. When you search for a subject, Shutterstock images appear at the top. These are pay images that are clearly marked. The ones below are the freebies, and there are lots of them. No account is required although it makes it easier to download if you use the site a lot. FYI – If you find a photographer you like, buy him or her a cup of coffee. You’ll be given this option after each download. It’s not necessary—this is a free site—but it’s a nice gesture for their hard work.
  • FreeDigitalPhotos.net – This site offers free photos in small sizes and only requires an attribution be listed. If you need larger photos or ones with high resolution, these can be purchased for a nominal fee.
  • Alegriphotos.com – This is a European website with a small collection of free and public domain photos. Includes pictures of European hotspots like the Colosseum in Rome, yachts anchored of Rhodes, and columns at the Vatican.
  • StockArch.com – Photographers on this site share their photos in exchange for a credit and a link back to their websites. Not a bad deal considering the high-quality pictures available.
  • OpenPhoto.net – Credit to the photographer is required and licensing varies. Some images can be modified for commercial use while others cannot. To check the licensing type, select the desired picture. Then, click on the attribution type. Ways the photo can be used are clearly listed.
  • Unsplash.com – As the site says, these are “free—do whatever you want—high resolution photos.” Ten new photos are added to the site every ten days. Old photos are searchable.

If you’ve struggled to find photos, consider that a thing of the past. So, what are you going to do with all your extra time? Sounds like a writing opportunity–get to it!

[bctt tweet=”8 ways to get free pictures for your writing projects. #AmWriting”]

Categories
The Blue Seal Awards

Blue Seal Awards Winners! – (Updated with Links)

Congratulations to our Blue Seal Award winners and finalists!

Thank you to all who entered, we look forward to your possible submissions in our Fresh Voices Writing Contest.

 

Blue Seal Award for Web Article Finalists: (Winner in Bold)

Cherrilynne Bisbano – http://pelicanpromise.blogspot.com/search/label/attitude

Evelyn Mann – http://www.miraclemann.com/2015/05/05/the-value-of-a-life-special-needs-children/ 

Jean Wilund – https://www.guideposts.org/blog/what-if-we-lived-what-we-say-we-believe – Winner

 

Blue Seal Award for Blog Finalists: (Winner in Bold)

Holly Barrett – www.hollybarrett.com – Winner

Lori Hatcher – www.lorihatcher.com

Jean Wilund – www.jeanwilund.com

Categories
Journeying through the Writer's Life

9 Things for Your Writing Vault

We all know the value of saving for the future. The truth is that’s not just good financial advice—it’s also good advice for writers. There are times when creativity won’t come and times when failure seems to be all that’s happening. For those times, we need to have a place we go to renew and refresh. I like to call that my writing vault.

[bctt tweet=”Here are 9 things all authors need in their #writing vault – @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

Here are 9 things for your writing vault:

  1. Books—I’m a writer, so of course I have a library. But my library isn’t just for recreational reading. I have scores of writing craft books (ebooks and physical). I also have a lot of books that I study because the author is either really good or really bad at some aspect of the writing craft. For example, I learned some amazing tricks of dialogue by reading and studying Janet Evanovich. I bought several of her books at the used book stores and marked them up, studying how she made her dialogue so natural and interesting. I also have books full of writing prompts, and even some blank books for those days when I need to step away from the computer.
  1. Websites—these range from author sites I follow to writing instruction, to research. I bookmark my favorites and return to them again and again.
  1. Writing Friends & Critique Partners—these are the people who get me. They know the struggles I face. They also help me grow by holding me accountable, exchanging critiques and providing someone to brainstorm with.
  1. A History of Workshops & Classes—well, truthfully I have the notes and often audio recordings from these. But over the years I’ve amassed a lot of knowledge. I keep it filed away and easy to find so I can return to it when the need arises.
  1. Favorite movies and TV shows—I’m more of a movie person, but with Netflix and Amazon Prime, I’m watching more television shows. All of these help me with story, character, pacing, even ideas.
  1. Quality Equipment—I’m not just talking computers here. I have an iPad, stylus, standing desk, and a copier/printer. I also have a stash of my favorite pens, notepads, and general office supplies. Having what I need on hand helps take away the excuses.
  1. Inspirational Music—this isn’t necessarily religious music, it’s anything that inspires you. Put together a playlist on Spotify and keep it on in the background while you’re writing.
  1. Alligator-tough Skin—writing isn’t for the faint-of-heart. We must endure rejection, revision and those horrible voices that live in every writer’s mind.
  1. Faith—This may be listed last, but I believe it’s the most important thing of all. For me, it goes beyond faith in myself, although that is important. My faith in the God who created me for the purpose of stringing words together is my foundation every single time I sit down to write.

[bctt tweet=”What do you keep in your #writing vault? @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

These are the things that I keep in my writer’s vault. I’d love to know what’s in yours.

Categories
Blogging Basics

How to Supercharge Your Blog with a Portfolio of Post Types

 

Med How to Supercharge Your Blog with a Portfolio of Post Types

You sit down at your computer to write a new blog post. A blank screen is all you can see. Drumming your fingers on the desk, you wrack your brain for something to write about.

Sound familiar?

Author Lori Roeleveld teaches that blogs are hungry beasts that need constant care and feeding. In blogging, we regularly need to write new content, which can be challenging. There are days it can make you want to run screaming into next week!

[bctt tweet=”Incorporating a variety of shareable content and blog styles will supercharge your writing. #blogging #poststyles”] Successful bloggers generate new content by incorporating a variety of post formats. When it comes to formulas for blog posts, there are many to choose from, but not all will be a good fit for your style and focus. Experimenting with a variety of post types, I have found a selection that fits my inspirational niche. Consider a few of my favorite styles of posts, and try a few to invigorate your blogging to add to your portfolio.

The Tell-a-Story Post

Everyone has a story to tell, and story brings your reader directly into the experience. We all love a good tale that engages heart and imagination.  From big moments to the small, mundane details, life is filled with meaningful stories to share.

How can story can make your message come alive with the authenticity of personal experience? Engaging anecdotes can stand alone—the joy of simply telling a story. They can also introduce concepts, engage readers, inspire action, or teach lessons—to name just a few ways story can add impact to writing.

Try opening your post with a story or use a short tale to illustrate a point.

The Inspirational Post

Inspirational bloggers have a wealth of content available in the pages of the Bible. Compelling  devotional content shares truth and impacts readers. Choose one short passage or topic so you have a clear purpose. Be sure to consider the context when writing about Scripture, and don’t take verses out of context simply to illustrate a point. Combining story and inspiration can take a Biblical post from didactic to relational with a few words.

The How-To or Tutorial Post

How-to posts are both popular and shareable content. Simply take a look at Pinterest and survey the titles of posts. Instructional posts provide information on topics of interest to readers, increasing interest and engagement. Knowing the needs and interests of your audience will increase your ability to create meaningful how-to articles.

Areas of expertise and experience provide additional ideas for tutorial content. How-to posts that teach, train, or guide establish authority and credibility in your subject matter.

Try brainstorming a list of how-to posts that relate to your blog focus.

The List Post

List posts can cover a variety of topics and are highly shareable content. Lists posts can teach, inspire, motivate, encourage. They can curate content and share resources as well. Content that reveals secrets (5 Secrets of ___), inspires action (3 Reasons You Should…), solves problems draw readers searching for specific topics or content.

Use this list to brainstorm ideas for list posts.

Number + Noun + Topic

10 formulas for effective list blog posts

Save this list for added inspiration.

The Solve-a-Problem Post

Choose content that provides a solution to a common need of your audience. Addressing needs with practical solutions, helpful advice, or relevant resources creates value and influence with your readers. Solving a problem can also be presented as a story or experience. Encourage your readers by sharing how you have overcome odds, beat challenges, or achieved success.

What is one experience that solved a problem in your life? Write about it!

The Provide-a-Bonus Post

[bctt tweet=”Mixing media and providing value keeps things fresh on your blog. #blogging “]Incorporate visuals, printable graphics, video, links, or audio to create a strong impact. Try building a list of ideas you can use to create a benefit or takeaway for your audience. Begin adding variety over time, paying attention reader response. Short eBooks, printable lists, resource lists, pdf documents, or contest giveaways are additional ways to add extra value for your audience.

Which bonus could you most easily accomplish this week? Go ahead and try it.

Which types of post do you normally write? Which type of post will you try this week? Leave a comment and let me know.

 

Categories
Platform and Branding

Does a writer really need a self-hosted website, or is a free site good enough?

One of the cornerstones of an author’s platform is a personal website or blog. (Because these terms are used interchangeably, I’ll use “website.”) After all, this is the only place online that’s all about you, and is the best place for readers and publishing professionals to get to know you. Consider your website as your online business card.

Most writers start out with a free website through WordPress.com or Blogspot.com. Those are both great options because you can learn helpful skills such as how to

  1. use a text editor (most of which have a similar feel to composing an email),
  2. incorporate graphics and visual elements,
  3. tag or label your posts for SEO (Search Engine Optimization),
  4. schedule posts, and
  5. build a list of subscribers and followers.

Other benefits include

  • no annual fees,
  • no need to worry about technical details such as backups and updates, and
  • the potential for added visibility if your host features free sites.

Many writers maintain free websites for years with no problems. Maybe they’re established in the industry and their blog is just an online playground. Or maybe they’re savvy and backup copies of all their posts and images. Free websites are fine as long as we understand the limitations:

  1. restrictions for the overall look and feel of your website (customizations, themes, plugins, layouts, gadgets, etc.),
  2. limited storage,
  3. monetization controlled by the host, and the worst:
  4. the host owns and controls your website.

Angry Executive ShoutingAnd the host can take down your free website at a moment’s notice.

If your site is reported as “objectionable content” or someone somewhere thinks it violates the company’s Terms of Service, they will act first and ask questions later, leaving you to deal with the fallout.

Self-hosted websites, particularly those using WordPress, have thousands of customization options, many of them free or inexpensive. You can buy additional space when you need it and you have more options for monetization.

Hosting packages range from $5 monthly (and you do all the backend work) to managed hosting* options (and they handle all the technical details).

Whatever your budget, consider your website as an investment in your writing career. Be informed about your options and create an online home represents you well and shares your message.

*Check out hosting by Fistbump Media, one of our advertisers. They offer managed hosting options especially for writers and bloggers.

Shareables:

self hosted vs free website - Susan Stilwell

[bctt tweet=”A #writer website is an online business card. Who should own it? @a3forme @susanrstilwell” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Self-hosted vs free website – which is best for a #writer? @a3forme @susanrstilwell” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”A #writer website is an investment. What is the risk? @susanrstilwell @a3forme ” via=”no”]

Photo Credits
Angry executive image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net ImageryMajestic