Tag: brainstorming

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Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for March Part 2

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh 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.”

Come Write with Us: Writing Fight Scenes with Crystal Caudill

Award-winning author Crystal Caudill joins us again so we can practice what we learned in her previous episode about writing both physical and verbal fight scenes (Picking the Write Fight; 1/16/24). After a brief recap of the earlier episode that focused on the purpose of a fight scene, Crystal led a brief brainstorming session. Then she asked specific questions that guided us in writing our own fight scenes. Every story needs tension to engage readers. Watch the replay to learn more from this week’s episode.

Watch the March 19th Replay

Crystal Caudill is the award-winning author of “dangerously good historical romance. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver. When not writing, Crystal can be found hanging with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

Fiction Series Collaboration with Naomi Musch and Amy Walsh

Naomi and Amy have participated in several collaborative fiction projects. Today they share advice on creating a marketable project that novelists will love to write and fans will love to read. They cover such topics as the difference between a series and an anthology, finding a common element for the stories in the collection, financial commitment and so much more. This episode is a great starting place for anyone who is interested in creating or participating in a series or an anthology.

Watch the March 26th replay

Naomi Musch writes to bring hope that will change the story—maybe even her own. Some of her novels have been finalists in the Carol Awards; the Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards; the Selah Awards; and have been twice nominated for Book of the Year. Naomi’s perfect day is spent writing, roaming the farm, and loving on her passel of grandchildren.

Amy Walsh writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three creative children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling–including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ-follower.

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: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133

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Book Proposals

Brainstorm An Excellent “Working” Book Title

            “The publisher will never use my title.” Or “It doesn’t matter what I call my book because the publisher will change it.” Writers often make these statements but they are not true from my decades of publishing experience. Repeatedly, if the author has an excellent title, then these words will make it through the publishing process. The best publishing is a consensus building and team approach if you want the best title for your published book.  I’ve been in meetings inside publishing houses where a white board is filled with possible titles for a book. Representatives from marketing, editorial and sales are in this room for brainstorming the title of a book. The one person who is not in that room is the one who has the most information about the content of the book—the author. The only way this author is represented in the room is through their book proposal. Yes this business plan document is important and something every author needs to create for their book—even if they self-publish.

            Every author needs to put a lot of energy into finding the best “working” title for their book. If you do, then your proposed title could be the published title for your book.

Here are some basic guidelines:

  1. The main title should be three to five words long. It has to fit the spine of a book and most books are spine out. Select short, punchy and active words.
  2. Test the title with friends and relatives to get their feedback and reaction. You can even brainstorm titles with a group of friends. In your proposal have a main title but also include a section with other possible titles.
  3. Check the title on Amazon (the largest online book catalog). Do other books use the same words? You can’t copyright a title and often other books use the same words. Possibly the title was used years ago and that book is out of print. Or your research may restart your title search to the beginning.
  4. Create several possible subtitles for your book (particularly nonfiction). The subtitle highlights a benefit for the reader. For example, Book Proposals That Sell (title), 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success (reader benefit).

Pour the right effort into your title and you will be rewarded with your working title becoming the name of the printed book in the bookstores.

Terry Whalin

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s recent book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. The revised and updated edition released in October. You can get a free book proposal checklist. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success.
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Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for October Part 2

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, 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.”

Featuring…

Come Write With Us: NaNoWriMo Prep with Brandy Brow

The month of October is commonly known as Preptober for all those writers gearing up for November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In this episode, Brandy Brow shares a terrific Infograph she created that will spark brainstorming ideas. After introducing her Story Elements Infograph, we brainstormed a story idea that began with answering “Who?” and meandered into other important questions such as: What, Where, When, How, and Why. The questions can be adapted for nonfiction writing, too. For more information and resources, be sure to check the replay from this week

Watch the October 18th replay.

Brandy Brow is a writer, editor, vocalist, and artist who took ten years away from writing to care for her special needs child and sick parent. During that time, she trained in fiction editing, ran Christian Writers’ Group International, and became a worship leader for her church and national anthem singer for a NASCAR short track. Back at writing, she is focused on flash fiction with a side of children’s stories. Magical realism and science fantasy are some of her favorite genres. Brandy lives in Vermont with her husband and most of her seven children where she eats way too much maple syrup and makes too many planners.

In the episode, Rachael M. Colby shares her methods and ministry of hosting interviews as a bridge for reconciliation and understanding, to encourage faith, and uplift those who serve in tough places. She shares tips that have helped make interviewing go more smoothly. She also reminded us to keep recording or taking notes until the interviewee leaves, because you never know what great morsel might mentioned at the very end. For more information and resources, be sure to check out this week’s replay.

Watch the October 25th replay.

Rachael M. Colby has a heart for reconciliation and a passion to uplift those who serve in tough places. She writes to connect cultures’ questions with Christianity’s answers, inspire faith, and motivate through articles, devotions, and poetry. She is a multi-award-winning writer with works published in compilations and online. Her article The Integration of Oak Ridge featured in the Oak Ridger Newspaper won the 2022 Selah Award for Articles in Print at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. This Jamaican-born wife and mom makes her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She runs on copious amounts of coffee and chocolate and a whole lot of “Help me, Jesus.”

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: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133

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The Intentional Writer

Boost Creativity by Increasing Diversity

The intentional writer

Do you want to take your creativity and problem-solving abilities to a new level? Diversify your inputs. Increasing the diversity of the groups you interact with and the sources of your creative inspiration will lead to:

  • Greater creativity
  • More innovative ideas
  • Improved problem-solving
  • Better decisions

All of which lead to greater success and greater job satisfaction.

It makes sense when you think about it. The more alike your friends and writing associates are, the more likely they will think along the same lines and come up with similar answers to problems. On the other hand, a more diverse group of people will have a broader outlook, more varied ideas, and more novel approaches to solving problems.

If you want to tap into the power of diversity, consider where you can add more diverse inputs in your writing life. Here are some suggestions.

Critique partners

Do your critique partners all write in the same genre? Do they all prefer to read the same sorts of books? While a critique from someone who hates your genre is usually not helpful, it’s wise to find critique partners who aren’t all writing the same kind of story.

My main critique partners write in completely different genres. This has served us well. In addition, I have joined forces with a fellow mystery writer (through the Sisters in Crime organization). When we were first brought together we weren’t sure it would work because our styles and worldviews appeared to be very different, but it turns out those differences have helped us identify blind spots, faulty assumptions, and plot holes. (Not to mention an occasional discussion on midwest vs. northeast idioms and brand familiarity.)

If you are looking for ways to diversify your critique input, here is a sample of the factors to consider:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Cultural background
  • Income level
  • Education level
  • Occupation(s)
  • Work experience
  • Religious beliefs
  • Where they’ve lived
  • Where they’ve traveled
  • Family background
  • Personality / temperament
  • Taste in books
  • Taste in music, and/or other arts
  • Main interests and hobbies
  • Favorite leisure activities
  • Writing experience level
  • Genres they write
  • Pantser or plotter?
  • Writing style and voice

Beta readers

The same goes for beta readers. Your readers will (hopefully) come from all walks of life, so finding a diverse group of beta readers will help ensure your story makes sense and appeals to different audience segments who might benefit from your book.

Brainstorming

Who do you bounce ideas off of? Do you count on your spouse and your critique partners to solve all your writing problems, or do you solicit ideas from a larger group of people? You might benefit from finding a handful of people with diverse backgrounds who are willing to gather now and then to brainstorm plot problems, plot ideas, marketing strategies, or anything else that could spark new life into your writing career. When choosing brainstorming partners, remember to choose a mixed group, and don’t limit yourself to writers.

Social contacts

How diverse are the backgrounds and life experiences of the people you interact with on a regular basis? Could you benefit from spending more time with people outside your usual group? I realize it’s difficult to socialize in a post-Covid world, but social media and internet forums provide an opportunity to interact with diverse viewpoints.

Book and media consumption

Just as with nutrition, the more varied our diet, the healthier we’ll be. If you find yourself reading book after book in the same tried-and-true genre, it may be time to branch out. Pick up a few books in genres you don’t normally read. If you really hate them, you don’t have to finish them, but don’t dismiss an entire genre just because you disliked one or two books. Ditto for movies, music, and other creative inputs.

Years ago I stated a book club with the primary purpose of forcing myself to read books I wouldn’t normally read. Because it’s an organized thing, it makes me remain intentional about choosing a variety of book genres, topics, and styles. Do you have a book club that pushes you out of your reading comfort zone? If not, perhaps its time to join one or start your own.

 I hope these ideas help you widen your creative horizons and find new inspiration.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

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Devotional/Christian Living

The Bridge: How to Choose and Write the Bible Point in a Devotion

The Bible point is the bridge between the hook where you began your devotion and the application point at the end of your devotion. The Bible point bridge must be strong and smooth, a natural arc so your reader can implant God’s word into his or her heart.

A short form devotion is usually three paragraphs: the hook, the Bible point, and the application point. Last month I wrote about the first paragraph, the hook. The hook pulls the reader towards the Bible point in the second paragraph.

How does a devotional writer choose and develop the Bible point? Here is how I do it:

Brainstorm all the Bible points. If I am writing for a publication, I am assigned a Bible passage. If I am writing for my own blog or book, then I chose what Bible passages I will be focusing on for my blog series or book. First I start with a prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide me to see the truth in the Bible passage. Then I read and reread the Bible passage writing down all the things that stand out to me about the passage.

I jot down interesting words that I want to look up to see what they mean in the original language. (You can do that here on blueletterbible.org.) I list descriptions of who God is. I notice any commands someone in the passage had to follow, although, be careful here because not all commands given to others in the Bible are for us to follow as well. The same goes for promises. Not all promises given in the Bible are for all people for all time. I also look for emotion words, too, and jot down if the Bible passage or verse reminds me of any other verses or passages. I also read the context around the Bible passage so that I remember who is speaking and in what time period are they speaking.

Let it simmer. Once I have brainstormed all the possible Bible points, then I pray again and set the list away for another day. I want to give the Holy Spirit time to work on my heart and see what particular Bible point He wants me to focus on for the devotion. During this time, I also read a commentary or two to make sure that I have not missed anything or misunderstood any of the Bible passage.

Pick one Bible point to focus on. If you are writing a longer Bible study lesson or a sermon or a longer blog post, you may be able to focus on many points in the Bible passage, but in a short devotion you will only have room for one point. Many short devotions have a word count of between 250-350 words. Plus, your devotion will be more memorable if you focus on one well-developed Bible point.

Explain the Bible point in simple, but descriptive detail. Once you picked out the one Bible point to focus on, then you can write the hook and the Bible point. Writing about the Bible point is not a retelling of the whole Bible passage. It’s a short paragraph pointing out one observation in the passage. You don’t have a lot of words to spare here, but make sure you reserve some words for descriptive detail to paint the picture of the passage in the reader’s mind.

The bible point bridge in devotional writing. Almost an Author.

Try it out! Pick out a Bible passage. Maybe it could be one that you are reading in your own Bible reading right now. List out the possible Bible points, then pick one to write a devotion on. You can submit it to any of these publications and maybe your devotional will be published! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions along the way.

Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s wife who is loving her church life. She writes about the hard parts of Scripture at readthehardparts.com. She has had devotionals published in the past, but now she is looking forward to getting her first Christian Living book published. You can connect with Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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Guest Posts

Writing with Family

Writing a book is a process.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So we did.

Writing a book is a process.

 

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

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

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

Sometimes, ideas popped up during car rides.

Sometimes, I wrote alone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Writing a book is a wonderful process.

 

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

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

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Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Brainstormed

It has been nearly Twenty-two years since I became disabled with a traumatic brain injury. Even so, I am still learning how my brain injury affects my body.

The disappointment and frustration are as fresh today as they were during my rehabilitation where I had to relearn everything from smiling, talking, to buttoning and unbuttoning shirts and even tying my shoes.

Anything that requires fine-tuned motor skills had become a struggle for me. Fine motor skills involve smaller movements performed by the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking. These motor skills work together to provide coordination.

It took over a decade for me to learn how my brain injury affected my eyesight, that’s when I learned I was statutorily (legally) blind. You don’t have to be a doctor or biology major to know that the brain controls the functions of every part of the human body.

But, the most surprising thing about a T.B.I. is how it affects my memory. My long-term memory is intact, but my short-term memory is shot. I can remember things as far back to when I was three years old and my family lived in Italy like it was yesterday. But, read a list of things to me, give me directions or play-by-play instructions and I’ll forget most of the information before you finish.

Not only do I have a hard time remembering detailed lists, I can have a hard time focusing on the order. It’s as if I’m stuck out in the middle of the ocean on a boat during a hurricane, the ideas and concepts keep flying by with the storm.

Brainstorm!

Brainstorming is defined as solving a problem or creating new ideas by having a discussion with others, or problem solving by exploring various ideas. For most creatives it is the first step in the process of creating.

It can breathe life into our creation or be the final nail in its coffin. Perhaps you’re like me, over the years I’ve learned creative outbursts and inspiration often occur at the most inopportune times: while driving and listening to the radio, during a pleasant spring or fall walk while leaf watching, during a last-minute fast food run.

And I hope I’m not the only one who has almost broken their neck trying to get out of the shower to jot down droplets of tranquil inspiration only found in an evening shower. It’s why I have a dictation app on my phone, often stopping on the side of the road to record memos and thoughts during a long bike ride.

When I get home I sit down and brainstorm the thoughts I recorded. For me brainstorming helps me to focus my thoughts.

There are different approaches to brainstorming for different purposes.

  • Speedstorming: is great for small groups, each person has five minutes to produce three ideas and write them down on a piece of paper. Then pass the paper to the person on the right, he has five minutes to build on those ideas. The process continues for 30 minutes or until each person has contributed to each paper.
  • Brain writing: this approach is similar, except each member develops as many ideas as possible before passing to the next person.
  • Reverse brainstorming: this approach requires generating ideas that would hinder the goal achievement. Then reversing the ideas to identify and solve the problem.
  • Content brainstorming key: utilizes a visual to illustrate how one thinks. A spreadsheet is used to determine: topic, audience and content structure. Participants write down as many ideas as possible to give a clear direction of the content.
  • Team brainstorming: participants are broken into small groups where limited time to generate as many ideas possible and jot them down on paper or poster board. When time is up, each team presents their ideas to the larger group.
  • Focus brainstorming: a no-brainer way to generate ideas for specific demographics. It utilizes each demographic within a company by separating them into groups to develop ideas specific to that demographic.

Focus!

The heart of brainstorming is the generating ideas to focus our audience, readers or target market onto a specific theme or idea we are trying to convey. It works like a laser by taking many ideas and focusing them all one specific point of relevance.

A writer’s primary objective is to be informative or entertaining, not wordiness. Years ago I heard author Jerry Jenkins say it this way:

“Learn how to say more by writing less.”

We all have ideas, everyone has a story. But, not everyone has the power to harness the power of the written word.

  1. Learn the process.
  2. Be coachable.
  3. Be humble.
  4. don’t get brainstormed!

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.

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A3 Contributor Book Release Bestsellers

Story Foundations for the Serious Writer by Best-Selling Author DiAnn Mills

Story ideas can be like fireworks. They soar and explode in beautiful colors…then their dance fizzles to the ground and we turn our attention to the next one. But story ideas don’t have to fade away. A writer can take those wild moments of inspiration and build a credible, colorful, creative, and compelling story.

Where do story ideas come from when we’ve spent hours brainstorming and feel like giving up? Buster Moon from Sing says: “When you’ve reached rock bottom, there’s only one way to go, and that’s up!”

Here are suggestions to give your story idea bestseller (up) status.

  • Pieces of a conversation…juicy tidbits that move us to explore story and character
  • An article in the news that grasps our attention
  • Books we’ve read—fiction or non-fiction
  • Music—including lyrics
  • Poetry
  • Nature—with all its beauty and danger
  • A movie you’d have written differently
  • The behavior of family or friends
  • Historic events about people and places
  • Genealogy
  • Personal experiences
  • Dreams

          Deep within our subconscious activity lies this realm where plot problems find answers, character situations resolve, and new characters are born.

I know you have a story idea. It’s banging against your head and heart, keeping you awake at night. You’re not sure what to do with all the information, and you fear you may lose it. So, let’s turn your burning thoughts into a book project.

Ready? Are your fingers poised on your keyboard? The exercises below will take a little time but so worth the effort.

Step One

Write your story idea in one sentence. Don’t concern yourself with character names, setting, and genre.

A few examples:

  1. A young mother confesses to her police officer husband she is not only addicted to drugs, but she also deals them.
  2. A businessman discovers the owner of his company is smuggling assault rifles into the country.
  3. A newly married couple is left behind on a wagon train when the husband is suspected of carrying a terrible disease.
  4. A young woman travels west to marry a man she’s never met—only to discover he doesn’t exist.
  5. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s means a middle-aged woman must become the caretaker for her mother, with whom she already has a strained relationship.
  6. A couple is wakened by thieves in their home. While the husband attempts to overpower the intruders, the wife is killed.
  7. During wartime, a prince is forced to take the throne for his ailing father. Then the prince learns he’s not the real heir, but the son of the warring king.
  8. The inhabitants of a planet wracked by pollution face extinction. Their only solution is to exterminate half of the population.

Take a deep breath and congratulate yourself. You’ve given your story life.

Now perfect your one-sentence storyline. Tweak it until you’re satisfied. Do you envision your protagonist(s) and antagonist(s)?

 Step Two

Take your one-sentence idea and write at least one paragraph about your story. Extend the idea to include what you know about your characters and the storyline. (Close your eyes while you write this.) Don’t worry about grammar and punctuation. Simply envision the story. When you’re finished, save and edit your paragraph(s).

Step Three

What is your story’s genre? Consider the list below and find a home for your idea.

  1. Contemporary
  2. Historical
  3. Romance
  4. Suspense/Thriller
  5. Mystery
  6. Western
  7. Women’s Fiction
  8. Speculative (includes science fiction, fantasy, allegory, etc.)
  9. Young Adult

Story ideas often mix genres with romance, such as:

Contemporary Romance

Historical Romance

Romantic Suspense

By including a thread of romance, writers increase their readership. It’s been said that 80 percent of book buyers are women. Half of them buy romance. Do the math and consider adding a spark of love to your project.

Where do you find the foundation for your story ideas?

Her latest book, High Treason, will be released February 6th.

DiAnn Mills is an award-winning, bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. She is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

 

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Write to Inspire-Terry Whalin

When we consider various markets for our magazine writing, often we neglect the market right before our eyes—the inspirational, religious marketplace. Maybe we avoid it because it’s the most personal part of our life and experiences.  In reality, this niche market is a wide-open opportunity to write about our personal experiences, lessons we’ve learned from life and the Bible or short stories or the range of articles from the broader marketplace—yet with a spiritual twist.

Years ago, I studied journalism at Indiana University.  I thought I was a hotshot writer who could hit any market.  As a new Christian, I naturally tried the religious marketplace. My writing efforts were last minute, lacked market research and 100% unsuccessful.  Because I failed to take the time to understand the market needs, I ended up writing strange untargeted articles that never appeared in print.

In contrast, years later after college, I gave the energy to research this market and understand it. I’ve written articles for more than 50 of these publications.  I’ve written devotionals, how-to articles, fiction stories, personality profiles, round-ups (a feature on a particular type of book like financial books or devotional books), book reviews and much more.

The motivation for writing about spiritual matters is more than the simple desire to be published.  Often the deeper motivation is to capture some experience, spiritual thought or how-to which motivates the reader into a deeper relationship with God.  The range of possible articles and age groups is a broad as your imagination.  Almost 700 inspirational magazines provide infinite possibilities for your writing.

This market requires a certain commitment to studying the publication, carefully reading the guidelines, then writing your article with a particular market in mind.  Often because the motivation for a particular article is beyond simply getting into print or being paid, the editors are more approachable and responsive to working with new authors.  While my last statement is true, it’s not always the case.  Often these publications are overwhelmed with poorly written, unfocused submissions.

If you study these religious publications, then appeal to their particular niche in the market with well-crafted storytelling, then I almost guarantee that your material will be carefully read, considered, then possibly published.

You can find these markets in your local Christian bookstore or publications, which you read weekly at your church.  Also your church library is a good source of various publications.  What type of religious material do you read on a regular basis? If you read a devotional guide like Quiet Hour  or The Upper Room, then through your life experiences, you have been gaining the background to write similar types of material.  Do you enjoy reading about the lives of other people, then you can write spiritually-based, personality profiles.  I’ve written about people like Disney Animator, Glen Keane (who created Beast in Beauty and the Beast) or best-selling author Janette Oke.

The stories don’t have to be complicated or involve interviewing someone famous.  The source material can come from your personal life.   When I lost a son years ago, we taught his older brother about death.  I wrote down the anecdotes from the experience and weaved it into an article called “Schooled In Death.”  Or I captured the story of my own spiritual journey through another personal experience article called “Two Words That Changed My Life.”

Every article is different and the publications are distinct. You can learn the skills to put together an excellent magazine article and write to inspire others. It’s important to write for their guidelines, then send in your material for consideration. You can write these magazine articles but it will involve learning then putting it into practice.

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. 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
5 For Writing

Waltzing With Potatoes: Brainstorming for VeggieTales

By Doug Peterson

The voice on the other end of the line was Bob the Tomato.

It was a Sunday night, and Phil Vischer, the voice of Bob and founder of VeggieTales, was calling to invite me to brainstorm ideas for their next video. If I recall correctly, I had about a week to 10 days to submit ideas for the next Larry-Boy video, so I aimed at submitting at least one per day. I was competing with about a dozen other freelance writers, so I wanted to fire off as many ideas as possible—a shotgun approach.

Little did I know that they would choose the very first idea that I submitted—an idea that became the video, Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed.

I bring this up because I want to talk about brainstorming—a process that is pretty much the same for me, whether I’m coming up with ideas for books or ideas for a Larry-Boy video. It’s a process that I like to think of as a dance of sorts, especially when it comes to brainstorming for singing vegetables. As the VeggieTales theme song famously says, “If you like to waltz with potatoes…”

My wife and I have taken ballroom dancing a few different times, despite my penchant for stepping on toes. So I can see some similarities between dancing and writing, because there is inevitably going to be some stumbling around in both processes.

When done properly, dancing looks easy and flows seamlessly, but it takes a lot of practice to get to that point, going over the steps again and again and again. In the same way, a good story flow gracefully off the page, but it takes a lot of hard work to get to that point, going over the steps again and again and again.

For me, the first step in the brainstorming process is…

Step 1. Find the rhythm. Get in the mood.

VeggieTales characters have their own rhythm and feel. So when I was writing books for VeggieTales, I would start my brainstorming sessions by getting in touch with my inner vegetable and immersing my entire being (or bean) in the VeggieTales world. I found that the best way to get into a Silly Songs state of mind was to sit down and watch a VeggieTales video or two or three or four. (Writing is such a hard life.)

VeggieTales has a distinctive, quirky sense of humor, so watching the videos would help me find the VeggieTales rhythm.

I have used this same strategy when brainstorming for other types of stories, and it still works. For example, when I used to write a humor column for a Christian magazine, I would start each brainstorming session by sitting down and reading Dave Barry books, just put myself in a very silly state of mind. So whatever genre you’re writing for, read something you like in that genre to get in the mood. However, be careful you don’t wind up imitating the other writer’s style. The purpose of this step is to get in the right frame of mind, not to copy another person’s style.

In the case of VeggieTales, I should note that I did want to consciously imitate their style because, after all, the editors were looking for writers who could match the distinctive feel of a VeggieTales story.

But if you’re writing in your own voice, make sure you keep that voice.

Once I got in the right mood, it was on to…

Step 2: Find a theme.

As any faithful fan knows, each VeggieTales episode centers on a particular value. King George and the Ducky was a lesson about selfishness, Rack, Shack and Benny was a lesson in handling peer pressure, Madame Blueberry was a lesson in thankfulness, and so on.

As I continued to do more writing for VeggieTales (primarily picture books), I created a master list of close to a hundred different themes, from which I regularly drew. My VeggieTales editor usually gave me the freedom to choose a theme, so when I brainstormed an idea, I tried to come up with ideas that matched a half dozen or so different themes.

Once I selected several potential themes, it was on to…

Step 3: Write down any idea that pops in my head.

I then went to work, jotting down any crazy idea that came to mind. But there was still a method to the madness.

When I was asked to brainstorm ideas for the new Larry-Boy video, I knew that Larry-Boy always battled villains that personified various sins. For instance, the villain in the first Larry-Boy episode was the Fib from Outer Space—a monster that grew and grew, just as lies do. Therefore, I made a list of different sins, and one of them was “spreading rumors.” I then latched onto the key word “spreading” and asked myself, “What are other things that spread?”

I began to jot down ideas, anything that popped into my head. One of the words I wrote down was “fire” because fire spreads, but that seemed too violent for a VeggieTales story. Pimples spread, but that was too gross. Viruses spread, but that seemed too difficult to visualize. And then I found it. I wrote down the word “weeds” because there’s nothing peskier than weeds that take over your field or lawn.

The result was the Rumor Weed, a weed creature that spreads all across town, spreading rumors about Larry-Boy’s butler, Alfred.

Brainstorming was typically the most difficult part of the process, because once I had a good idea, writing a 1,000-word children’s book was a piece of cake in comparison.

In sum, brainstorming can be tough, but my process was quite simple: (1) Get into the rhythm or the right mood; (2) select a theme; and (3) jot down whatever comes to mind.

I continue to use this process for whatever kind of writing I’m doing, which lately has been historical novels. However, instead of waltzing with potatoes, these days I’m doing the foxtrot with Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures.

But either way, the dance goes on.

* * *

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
Create. Motivate. Inspire. Support Writer Encouragement

3 Reasons to Learn How to Share (Your Writing)

I slogged through composing an article, retyping the same sentence six or seven times. The sentence was too short, too wordy, too awkward, too something. I deleted the string of witless words.

Nothing.

It was time to escalate so I shot an email to a writing buddy and attached the offending sentence along with a plea for help. In minutes, she replied with the suggestions of moving one word and adding punctuation after another.

The problem that I had stared down for way too long, she had solved in seconds.

In this unique realm where we subsist as writers, critique partners are our lifelines. The benefits of sharing our work with like-minded souls are boundless, including improving our basic skills, developing a sense of community, and dealing with doubts and insecurities.

Do you ever feel bogged down in a writing project? These are my three favorite reasons to reach out to other writers:

1. Accountability
Writers tend to live a life of isolation. We can stay secluded for days and even weeks at a time. The downside of this is the tendency to drift toward laziness and procrastination in our work. Knowing that someone will be asking about our progress can give us just the push we need to keep going.

2. Fresh Insight/Perspective
We can read our work a dozen times and not see the problems that a critique partner will see on a first perusal. Feedback is crucial to our growth and development as a writer. We learn exponentially under honest review and evaluation. My favorite phrase to hear is, “Is this what you meant to say…?”

3. Inspiration
Brainstorming with fellow writers can be a little touch of heaven on earth. Article and book ideas have been conceived from a group of writers laughing, sharing and challenging each other to dig deeper and reach higher. In a recent conference workshop, I deliberately began an article with over-the-top silliness. My critique group proceeded to surprise me by saying, “Keep it in!” They gave me the courage to jump in and experience something fresh and new in my writing.

[bctt tweet=”Brainstorming with fellow writers can be a little touch of heaven on earth. #amwriting @lthomaswrites”]

Who keeps you accountable and fans the flames of creativity in your writing-life? If no one comes to mind, make it a point to seek out like-minded friends and colleagues. Do a google-search of writer’s groups in your area or contact a respected conference website for recommendations (brmcwc.org and word-weavers.com are good examples).

You may be the inspiration that someone else is seeking.

[bctt tweet=”Who keeps you accountable and fans the flames of creativity in your writing-life? #amwriting #writer @lthomaswrites”]

Photo art by Hilary Brooke Hall ©2015
Used by permission