Seriously Write

Fortifying Friday: Can I Do This?

2012-01-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

Can I Do This?

When we begin a new manuscript, receive a rejection, or struggle with mastering our craft, we may wonder if we really have it in us to be writers. After all, the journey to publication is not an easy road to travel. There are many who give up and fall by the wayside.

If we truly believe we’re called to write, and we desire to serve God through our words, I believe we won’t settle for mediocrity. Creating and sharing our projects can bring joy and fulfillment in a variety of ways. But writing to our potential means hard work, tenacity, and sometimes sacrifice. It may also require patience and waiting for years to get published.

Can I do this?

Have you ever asked yourself that question?

One of my friends (multi-published) and I recently talked about the projects we’re working on. I’m tackling a genre that I’ve never written before. I explained that it's a little scary for me. I experience fearful moments when I wonder if I'm just kidding myself. Can I really do this? Can I pull it off?

She admitted—and I’ve heard other authors say the same thing—it never changes. As a matter of fact, some multi-published authors express that with each new book, because of expectations, their fear increases. They worry they won’t be able to write the story, and then when it’s published, they fear bad reviews and poor sales. As the saying goes, you’re only as good as your last book….

But God doesn’t want us to be afraid! He put the desire in our hearts to write because he has a plan and a purpose for it.

We can find encouraging words in the Bible when we experience doubt. (I've included one list below.) You may want to keep them in sight in your writing space. When you question your abilities … when you feel stuck … and when you feel discouraged, look to those words to help keep you moving forward with renewed energy and faith in God and yourself.

Have you ever struggled with doubt or felt discouraged? What helped you?

We can do this!

~ Dawn

YOU SAY: “It’s impossible.”

GOD SAYS: “All things are possible.” (Luke 18:27)

YOU SAY: “I’m too tired.”

GOD SAYS: “I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

YOU SAY: “I can’t figure things out.”

GOD SAYS: “I will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

YOU SAY: I’m not able.”

GOD SAYS: “I am able.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

YOU SAY: “It’s not worth it.”

GOD SAYS: “It will be worth it.” (Romans 8:28)

YOU SAY: “I’m afraid.”

GOD SAYS: “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

YOU SAY: “I’m always worried and frustrated.”

GOD SAYS: “Cast all your cares on ME.” (1 Peter 5:7)

YOU SAY: “I’m not smart enough.”

GOD SAYS: “I give you wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

YOU SAY: “I feel all alone.”

GOD SAYS: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

YOU SAY: “I can’t manage.”

GOD SAYS: “I will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

This and That Thursday: A Cardiac Arrest Victim's Twist on New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ocieanna here. I know it’s toward the end of January, and your goals, resolutions, and plans have already been made and embarked on, but will you indulge me one more article about goal setting?

It may be different than you expect.

I tend to be a goal setter. I love my lists with little boxes to check off (just ask my kids). In the past, each year I carefully thought out my short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. Personal, professional, spiritual, you know the drill. SMART goals…

Early on (probably way back in my twenties) I learned how discouraging these dang lists can be. No matter what my intentions, my success rate hovered around ten percent. Not stellar.

Regardless, year after year, I’d get into the spirit and plan out (either mentally or physically) my list of goals and dreams.

I did that last year too.

Well, if you don’t know what happened to me last January, let me share. I was lying in my bed watching TV when my heart stopped. Paramedics came and revived me, but in that minute, my life changed. (You can read more about my story on my website.)

So much for my goals and plans.

Everything I expected for the year—my planned novel, teaching Bible, homeschooling, even trivial tasks like doing laundry or making dinners—all fell away. I was left with me and God. And just as He promised, He directed my path, step by step, through that time.

You know what? Even though it was difficult, I liked His plan better than mine. Not only because, well, He's God and His plans are just plain better, but because His plan revealed His tender care and protection of me in a way my pre-set goals, as grand as I thought they were, couldn't. Through His way--so different than my own--I felt His love like I never had before. I'd call that a better way.

I’m not telling you this to discourage you from filling out charts, making goals, and especially not from dreaming, but maybe my experience will temper your planning a little.

You may plan to finish three articles and a proposal. He may plan for you to love your kids through a life-changing event. You may plan to send out five queries to agents. He may plan to send you to a new and unknown ministry. You may have great successes planned. He may want to show you His love through failure.

Or like me, He might just want you to rest a spell.

So make your goals, but remember to walk in step with the One who holds your writing career—your whole life—in his hands. His love will guide you, even down uncharted paths.

Happy 2012, my writing friends,

Ocieanna

Ask O: How Do I Find Story Question? Part Three

2012-01-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends!

Today we’re going to conclude our Story Question series with five quick questions to ask your characters.

1. "What do you want more than anything?" This is one of the first questions I ask my heroine. Then I stare into space (do you do that?) and let her tell me. Usually, she begins with a superficial answer. In my latest book, Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, (coming out later this year, yay!), Ellie wants to provide enough money to pay for her grandfather’s medical bills. She also wants to marry her sweetheart.

2. “C’mon, Ellie, can you go deeper?” As I coax her to delve beyond the surface, I discover at the heart of her longing is a desire to please. She feels unworthy of love, so thinks she must perform to gain approval from everyone around her.

3. “Now, Ellie, why do you want to please everyone?” This forces me to plunge the depths of Ellie’s heart. Well, she wants to please because her parents died when she was young. Even though she relishes her grandfather’s unconditional love, the high-society world she lives in pressures her to be perfect. The only mother-figure she has expects just-right clothes, manners, and appearances, so she never feels like she quite gets it right. Because of this she forces herself to try harder, only to keep failing.

4. “Okay, Ellie, what’s your preliminary story question?” Here it is: Will Ellie be perfect enough to please those around her?

Ah ha! Now we’re getting somewhere. And this is a secret weapon. The answer to the preliminary story question can be no. In fact, it’s often more dramatic if the reader feels she’s going down a wrong path. Of course Ellie can’t be perfect enough to please those around her. We don’t want her to be. We want her to do something else. And this becomes the real Story Question.

5. “Now, Ellie, is that really what you want?” Ellie shakes her head. What she really longs for is to be accepted and loved for who she is—by those around her and especially by Christ. So the final Story Question is this: Will Ellie get past her desire to be perfect and embrace Christ’s unconditional love?

From there I built a novel!

I'd love to hear your story questions. Feel free to share yours and any tips you may have on how you came up with them.

Happy writing! And don't forget to leave your writing questions in the comments or on my website at ocieanna.com.

Ocieanna

Do You Want a Drill Bit or a Hole? by Alton Gansky

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

A lot of times, we, as writers, pigeonhole ourselves into one type of writing, i.e., we're novelists, or we only write one type of fiction. Alton Gansky shows us how to define ourselves in terms of the goal, not necessarily the form of writing. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. ~ Angie

Years ago Discover magazine ran an article about Amory Lovins (as told to Cal Fussman). Haven’t heard of him? Neither had I, but he’s made a name for himself by having innovative ideas about energy, oil, and the like. He’s a physicist, economist, inventor, automobile designer, and several other things to make mortals like me feel like gross underachievers. In the article he discusses ways to deal with the world’s energy problems, but that’s not why I mention him. Although I found his thoughts interesting, I found his way of thinking even more so.

He made a point by describing a man who walks into a hardware store to buy a drill bit. Lovins asks, “What does the man really want?” My knee-jerk response: Um, a drill bit? But no. The man wants a hole. Okay, that seems pretty basic but how many of us think that way? Much of creativity, innovation, and artistic endeavor comes from asking the right question.

Maybe another example.

At the turn of the last century one of the first (maybe the very first) woman business consultants, Mary Parker Follet, was working with a company that made lamp shades. She asked a question that at first stumped them. “What business are you in?” Like me they went for the obvious, “Um, lamp shades?”

“No, you’re in the light control business.” Seems too subtle to make a difference, but then the, well, light went on. “You mean we can make window shades, too?” The ideas began to flow. The failure to ask and properly answer this question almost doomed the railroads that had difficulty seeing that they were in the transportation business, not the railroad business (which meant they missed out on many opportunities).

Now, what business are writers in? Are novelists in the fiction business? Are periodical writers just in the magazine biz? Are editors in the word refining business? What about publishers? Are they just in the book business?

And what about our man in the hardware store? He’s there to buy a bit, not because he likes the design and feel of it, but because he needs a hole bored into something. What’s your real need; your real desire; your real goal? If everything worked perfectly, what would your writing business look like and how would you measure its success? The man with the drill bit measures his success by the holes that he drills. Those holes are evidence of achievement. What is the writer’s proof of accomplishment?

What business are you in? What is your real goal?

These are questions I ask myself. Life changes us, the industry changes, readers change; therefore we must be flexible. The answer to the question should never be chiseled in stone but allowed to adapt to our ever altering interests, skills, and world.

“What business are you in?” I am in the communication business. I peddle ideas, sell concepts, and market thoughts. Of course, as a Christian, most of what I communicate touches on faith and the way it is lived out.

Am I a novelist? Yes, but I write nonfiction as well. Am I then a writer of books? Sure, but I also write short pieces, blogs, articles, consult, and edit. Okay, then, that makes me a wordsmith. That’s true it does, but I also lecture, give interviews, teach classes. You get the idea.

We need to think wider and deeper. What do we really want to achieve? I asked, “What is your real goal?” Mine is this: I want to make people think. That’s it. Do I want to entertain? Of course, but entertainment isn’t the goal, it’s the means. I want people to say, “Wow,” “Great,” “Gripping,” but most of all I want them to go, “Hmmm.”

I feel most successful when I, through written or spoken words, reach into someone’s mind and tickle it with a new thought.

That’s how I measure success.

Alton L. Gansky is the author of 23 novels and 7 nonfiction works, as well as principle writer of 7 novels and 2 nonfiction books. He has been a Christie Award finalist (A Ship Possessed) and an Angel Award winner (Terminal Justice). He holds a BA and MA in biblical studies. He lives in central California with his wife.

In addition to his own writing, Alton Gansky has consulted and provided editing/ writing services to several CBA publishers and written copy, video scripts, and other works for the general business market. Through Gansky.Communications he has consulted with publishers and agents, as well as provided editing services. He is “the go to guy” for co-writing having been selected by Penguin, Waterbrook, Broadman Holman, and other publishers to work with their top tier authors.

Gansky is in frequent demand at writer’s conferences having taught and keynoted in California, Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Delaware.

He is the director of the premier writers conference: Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers.

Connect with Al

E-mail, Twitter, www.altongansky.com, www.my-cwc.com

Randy Ingermanson's Take on the Moral Premise: Part Two

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

This Mixing-it-Up Monday, Randy Ingermanson is back for his second installment of this great series on the moral premise. Read on! ~ Annette

Creating: The Moral Premise--Part Two

by Randy Ingermanson

Please understand that Stan (the author of The Moral Premise) doesn't recommend that your book should be only about nice people. Plenty of great fiction is about people who aren't nice.

THE GODFATHER is a great novel about a mafia family that isn't a bit nice. THE DAY OF THE JACKAL is a great novel about a psychopathic assassin. GONE WITH THE WIND is a great novel about some loveable rogues whom you'd kick to the curb if you met them in real life.

The key thing to understand when talking about a Moral Premise is that the story needs to end "right" even if the beginning and middle are "all wrong."

In the second DIE HARD movie, we see an airliner full of people get blown up right near the end. And the audience cheers. Why?

Because the airliner is full of bad guys who are escaping the long arm of the law. They've spent the whole movie doing Bad Stuff, but in the end, they get

the only possible justice.

No, that doesn't always happen in real life. In real life, sometimes the bad guys get away. In real life, sometimes the good guys get reamed.

People don't read fiction to get another dose of real life. They already know real life sucks, mostly.

People read fiction to see things work out the way they "ought" to work out.

In fiction, the bad guys should get whacked in the end. The good guy should get justice. Or the promotion. Or the girl. Or whatever else he was trying to get.

In fiction, characters should get what they deserve, in a way the reader doesn't expect.

Let's remember that you don't have to write your fiction in black and white. In fact, you generally shouldn't. You've got a lot of shades of gray to work

with and you're allowed to use them all.

Very often, the protagonist is both good and bad and has to make a decision about which way to go. Every reader knows that the "right" decision "needs" to be rewarded and the "wrong" decision "needs" to be punished.

You can write this as a simple design pattern: [Virtue] leads to [Good Result], but [Vice] leads to [Bad Result].

Here, you need to fill in [Virtue] with any particular virtue you want—honesty, sincerity, justice, love, humility, whatever. Then you need to fill in [Vice] with some particular vice opposed to your chosen virtue. Likewise, you need to fill in [Good Result] and [Bad Result] with the good or bad things that "ought" to be the results in a fair universe.

~~~~~

This E-zine is copyright Randall Ingermanson, 2011.

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the Snowflake Guy," publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 28,000 readers, every month. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.

Step Away from Your Desk! by Delia Latham

2012-01-20T00:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, we writers can get consumed with the characters in the fantasy worlds we create. Other activities can begin to feel like distractions and deterrents to getting our “work” done. But author Delia Latham encourages us to step away from our desks, explains why it may just be the best thing for us, and provides tips on how to accomplish it! ~ Dawn

Step Away from Your Desk!

by Delia Latham

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV): Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Writing is a solitary occupation. It makes hermits of us, unless we take deliberate steps to prevent that outcome.

Of course, if hermitry is the life one prefers, then so be it.

Most of us, however, need interaction with other human beings—something beyond social networking sites and e-mail activity. That blending of minds and personalities breathes life into us, provides fodder for our imaginations (always a good thing for a writer!), and keeps us from becoming stale, uninteresting, unhealthy…and unproductive.

We cloister ourselves inside our offices, fingers to keyboard, rear to chair—exactly as we've been taught. We insist that it's necessary to shut out the real world in order to create fictitious ones. But in reality, a lack of contact with people and real-life situations shows up in our writing as dull, cardboard characters and lifeless storylines that will never see print.

It is possible to find that human connection without allowing our writing time to suffer. And even if it does—if we're writing three hours each day instead of four—isn't it worth it if the words we write sparkle with life and energy?

Step away from your desk and breathe new life into your writing! Here's how:

One day a week, write somewhere besides your office.

Coffee shops (or even a local McDonald's) provide a great opportunity to observe others, hear real conversation, and absorb the energy of human contact. Take your laptop along. You can write…or just make character notes. Listen in on a conversation or two. Observe the various expressions and body language of the customers. (Note: DO buy a cup of coffee, maybe even a pastry. You'll find yourself far more welcome next time you go.)

Go to the park and get some fresh air. No Wi-Fi, but admit it…you'll do more writing when you don't have access to the internet.

Writing in your local library provides a chance to get acquainted with the librarians, which might lead to a reading and/or book signing. Donate a book—they'll love you for it.

Join a local writers group.

Check the internet or your local phone directory. Inquire at ACFW or RWA. Most of the time, you'll find a group within easy driving distance.

Can't find a group? Start one! A little ad in the newspaper or your church bulletin is sure to render some response. Even 3-5 writers who want to get together and brainstorm is a start. The more diverse your members as far as writing experience, the better. New writers are excited and eager, and that enthusiasm will make itself felt in the group. Experienced authors can be of benefit to each other and help the newbies develop their craft.

Attend church functions.

Not just services, although those are important. Go to potlucks—they don't happen often, and they provide much-needed fellowship and activity. Join the ladies' group or the praise team. Do something that forces you away from your desk and into life.

Find a place to volunteer.

Sometimes the best way to help yourself is to help someone else. Be a blessing…and it will come back to you, "pressed down, shaken together, and running over." (Luke 6:38)

I'm sure there are plenty of other routes to take. Let's talk about them. What keeps you from becoming a "hermit writer"?

Born and raised in Weedpatch, California, Delia Latham moved to Oklahoma in '08, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. She's a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She loves Dr. Pepper and hearing from her readers. Contact her through her website or e-mail.

Delia writes inspirational romance and women's fiction, and is currently contracted through White Rose Publishing and Vinspire Publishing.

Other places to find Delia Latham:

Living the Write Life (blog)

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Being Perfect by Rachel Olsen

2012-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

Since we're halfway through January, I figured most of us have broken one or two of our resolutions - I know I have. I got great comfort from this devotional from Rachel Olsen. It was originally posted on the Proverbs 31 Ministries site and reposted here with permission, of course. Click here to receive daily devotions from Rachel and the other talented ladies at Proverbs 31 Ministries. ~ Angie

“Don’t live under the control of your sinful nature. If you do, you will think about what your sinful nature wants. Live under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will think about what the Spirit wants. The way a sinful person thinks leads to death. But the mind controlled by the Spirit brings life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 (NIRV)

There’s a moment I dread at the doctor’s office. It’s not putting on that tissue paper mistakenly called a “gown.” It’s not having my finger pricked – though I’m squeamish about blood. It’s the moment right after the nurse finishes her questions, grabs her clip board, and announces the doctor will be in to see me shortly.

Pulling the door closed, she leaves me alone with it. I already know what it’s going to say about me; I’ve read it before. It’s going to tell me I don’t measure up. I’m not reaching my potential. I don’t equal my ideal. It’s the chart that declares the perfect weight for my height – and I’m several pounds away.

It extends no mercy, offers no grace. It makes no allowances for how old I am, how many babies I’ve birthed, or that my husband can eat three plates of food every night without gaining an ounce. It demands perfection.

A few years ago I heard a verse that seemed to be the scriptural equivalent of the height/weight chart. A single verse to measure my worth against, and feed my expectations for perfection: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, NIV 1984)

I figured this verse justified dressing my family in matching sweaters, in the middle of July, to take our Christmas card photo because I’d just gotten the perfect haircut. I figured it warranted pricey toothpaste because I drink coffee and tea, and it shows. And I figured it was my defense when I drove my family nuts about deep-cleaning the house because my new friend might stop by.

This verse helped me justify my quest for perfect photos, perfect teeth and a perfectly clean house. But it added to my disappointment, guilt and occasional loathing when my life, body or family didn’t match my ideal notions. Rather than fostering contentment and satisfaction, it fueled self-criticism. Surely this is not what Jesus intended!

In the years since hearing that verse, I’ve embraced a core conviction that goes like this: If God created life, He alone gets to define it. This conviction drove me to find out what exactly Jesus meant by “be perfect.”

‘Perfect’ used in the ancient Greek language in this verse means something a little different than Mr. Webster’s definition. The Greek word here is teleos: “complete, full grown, developing.”

The first two pieces of that definition indicate something already accomplished, while the third indicates an ongoing process.

So this perfection Jesus prescribes for us is already complete and yet still developing. Complete in Him; still at work in us. We’re allowed to be a work-in-progress!

All parts of this definition, however, refer to maturity of character, rather than a flawless figure, immaculate home, or the faultless execution of a task. Jesus doesn’t care so much if there’s dust on our mantle, stains on our teeth or a scratch on our car. He isn’t interested in how well our bedspread matches our curtains. He’s interested in our spiritual maturity.

Jesus teaches that our worth is only found in reflecting His character. To graciously give and receive love. As John writes in 1 John 3:18-20, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (NIV).

Now that’s good news for a recovering perfectionist.

Dear Lord, thank You for grace! Thank You for mercy! Thank You for empowering me to be like You as I submit to Your Word. And thank You for not caring about dust bunnies or stained shirts. Help me to care less about those things as well and focus my heart on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Come to Rachel’s blog and leave a prayer request for victory over perfectionism.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you’ll want to get a copy of Rachel’s book It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.

Rachel Olsen's passion is helping women see and savor God afresh. This engaging communicator, and author of It's No Secret, leads women to cultivate an invigorating spiritual walk - one that sustains through life's ups and downs. One that delights both God and self.

She has a well-earned reputation for providing quality women's devotional material. She serves as Editor in Chief of Proverbs 31 Ministries' online devotions Encouragement for Today. She also served as General Editor, along with Lysa TerKeurst, of the devotional book, God's Purpose for Every Woman.

Her devotions and articles have been published across the web on Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, CBN.com, Oneplace.com, and Growthtrac.com.

Ask O: Story Question Part Two: Why the first chapter?

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends!

Back to Story Question. Last week we talked about how Story Question has to do with the “problem.’ What problem does my character need to solve? What issue will she wrestle with until finally discovering the answer in a satisfying ending?

Today, let’s expound on why defining this problem early on is important. In my years of freelance editing, I’ve found that a poorly defined story question leads to meandering tales. The author seems to not know where she’s going, and worse, the character doesn’t know what she wants. What does this do to readers (and editors like me)?

Well, it makes me want to give up. If the story is a romance, for example, I have an expectation that the character longs for intimacy, or perhaps she's burried in a false sense of independence that will be overturned. “The last thing I need,” Madelyn gripes. “Is a man!” But of course we know a loving relationship with a good, strong man is exactly what Madelyn needs.

If I can’t cozy into this need in the first scene (preferably the first page), I feel lost and a little cheated. Is this a romance or not? It’s like taking a bus from Washington State to Florida, but heading north instead of south. Why are we going this way? I chose this trip to get me some Florida sunshine!

But, if I do really grasp the hole in the heroine’s life that love must fill, ahh, I’m hooked. If I empathize with her need (which means it must be shown not told), I can’t help but keep reading. I must find out how the problem of her lonely heart will be solved! We’re on the way to the Sunshine State and I wouldn’t get off this bus if you paid me.

Same holds true for other genres. One very important key to nabbing reader interest in those first pages is showing what the character longs for in the first scene, whether romance, suspense, women’s fiction, fantasy, or anything.

Finally, notice how Story Question deals almost exclusively with the internal. Yes, we must know the external goals—Leslie wants to become a helicopter pilot, Sir Philip yearns to build a castle. These are important foundations for your plot points, but physical objectives aren’t enough.

From the first scene, we must know what internal motivation moves the heroine to take on her quest. Readers must understand why the external goals are important to the protagonist. And that’s internal--the motives of the heart (to add a touch of schmaltzy).

How are you doing with your character’s Story Question? Keep working on it, narrowing it down, thinking of ways to show it early on. Soon you’ll realize you’ve nailed it. And you won’t be able to stop your fingers from clicking on the keyboard.

Happy writing!
Ocieanna

Creating the Essential Backstory by DiAnn Mills

2012-01-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I was having lunch with girlfriends and thetopic of diet came up. Not exactly what I wanted to hear with the holidayeating taking revenge in my rearview mirror. The diet discussion continued, butinstead of plans to move forward, we confessed to what we’d eaten to getourselves into an expanded condition. In short, we bemoaned our backstoriesthat placed us in the present.

What is Backstory?

Backstory consists of the events and circumstances thatmotivate a character into fresh and compelling action. What happened to thecharacter before page one propels the story. We are four-part creatures whodeal with the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental realms of our world.Our characters have the same challenges.

Robert McKee says it best: “Backstory—previous significantevents in the lives of the characters that the writer can reveal at criticalmoments to create turning points.”

When we studied fiction writing, our instructors told us toavoid backstory that doesn’t relate to the present character’s goal or problem.How does a writer make that determination? Backstory is critical in the worldof story, but a master writer discerns what part of backstory is vital and whatis superfluous.

To avoid confusion, let’s define what backstory is not:

Backstory is not the actionthat fills scene after scene of a powerful novel.
Backstory is not thecamouflaged aspects of the story that are happening in the present. Thepoint-of-view character might be unaware of happenings around her, but theevents are still unfolding.
Backstory is not a flashback. Aflashback is a scene interruption and slows the story by forcing the reader tomake an adjustment by sending them to the past. Sol Stein defines flashback as,“A scene that precedes the time of the present story.” Readers want toexperience the adventure with crisp writing that is happening now. If aflashback is necessary, transcend in and out—quickly.

Donald Maass recommends restraining backstory for the firstfifty pages or so of the novel.

When is Backstory Essential?

Long before the initialwriting process begins. The history of each character is intimate, personal,and exciting. Do you remember the last time you invested hours in getting toknow someone new? The person most likely did not reveal flaws and weaknessesduring the beginning stages of the relationship; instead, she convinced you bywords and actions that she was a great person. The flaws in her character camemuch later as you spent time traveling down the road of life. By then we were investedin the new friend and chose to overlook character flaws. How did that personreveal her past? What emotions did she display? Was she complex or predictable?

By learning the backstory of a character, actions in thepresent are easier for the writer to predict according to experiences andlessons learned.

Relationships often seem contrived unless the writer hasestablished backstory to weave how and why characters behave the way they do.The inspiration behind these relationships is revealed in snippets throughoutthe story. The writer holds on to the reins of backstory as though she weredriving a team of runaway horses.

Discover Your Character's Backstory

How can the writer weave a tale unless she knows what thecharacter wants and needs? Many writers use a character sketch to analyze thepast. By discovering information from every angle of character development, awriter is able to create a picture of the character’s life before the first sentence.

Take inventory of the character’s childhood. Write about theexperiences that formed his/her personality for the present story. Use allseven universal emotions to learn about the character: surprise, fear, anger,sadness, disgust, happiness, and contempt. Ask the hard questions that thecharacter might not want to discuss. Force the character to expose inner hurtsand pain. In the depths of the forbidden, the writer finds the nuggets ofpersonality, persuasion, and power.

Once the writer has searched the childhood years, move on tothe teens, young adulthood, and then to the current age of the character. Themore you discover about the character, the richer the backstory. Understandthat not everything the character states about the past is useful, only theparts that pertain to the story. Continue the exercise in time increments untilone hour before the story opens.

Perhaps the plotting and opening lines of the story will nowtake a different twist.

Backstory, where will it take you?

Award-winningauthor DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spiritwith unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fiftybooks in print, which have sold more than a million and a half copies.

Hertitles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have wonplacements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards andInspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and2011.

DiAnnis a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a memberof Inspirational Writers Alive; Romance Writers of America, and AdvancedWriters and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teacheswriting workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor forthe Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

Sheand her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Connect with DiAnn:

www.diannmills.com

Randy Ingermanson's Take on the Moral Premise: Part One

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Last September, all the buzz at the American Christian Fiction Writer's conference was on two things: e-books and the moral premise. Here, Snowflake guru and writing mentor, Randy Ingermanson, shares his take on the concept in a very helpful way. Here is part one of a three-part series this month. Enjoy! ~ Annette

Creating: The Moral Premise -- Part One

by Randy Ingermanson

Here are the kinds of novels I hate to read:

* Novels that aim to make me change my politics

* Novels that aim to make me change my religion

* Novels that aim to make me change my scientific views

* Novels that aim to make me change my mind on ANYTHING

I read fiction to have fun, not to read a diatribe, a sermon, or a polemic.

How about you? Yes or no on preachy fiction?

That's what I thought. It's unanimous.

This is why I was extremely leery when I learned a few months ago that one of the main speakers at a forthcoming conference was going to speak on "The Moral Premise." The last thing I wanted to hear was that we novelists need to be writing moralizing books.

As it turned out, my fears were groundless.

The speaker at the conference was Stan Williams, Ph.D.,the author of the book THE MORAL PREMISE, and a fascinating guy. (He has a degree in physics, which is always a good sign.)

Stan's basic idea is that a movie (or any kind of fiction) will fail when it is based on a "moral premise" that the audience believes is false.

Audiences will suspend disbelief on lots of things, but they bring in certain bedrock assumptions about the way the universe ought to operate. So do you.

You exert ultimate power over the universe which is your Storyworld. You know the drill. Great power, great responsibility. Don't screw up.

I spent some time talking with Stan at the conference and was extremely impressed with his ideas. I highly recommend his book for anyone who wants to put a strong theme into their fiction but doesn't want to come across as didactic or moralizing.

When you write a story with a sound Moral Premise, you are not trying to persuade your audience of something they don't believe. You are writing a story that confirms something they (and you) already believe.

Big difference.

~~~~

This article is copyright Randall Ingermanson, 2011.

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The Care and Feeding of Writers by Michelle Griep

2012-01-13T00:10:00.000-08:00

I’ve often said that no one can truly understand a writer except another writer. We are a unique breed. Today, author Michelle Griep explains some of our tendencies and what we can do to help take care of our species. You may want to share this article with family and friends! ~ Dawn

The Care and Feeding of Writers

by Michelle Griep

I’m a writer. It says so on my business card. Sometimes I pull one out just to remind myself because it still doesn’t seem real. Seriously.

Could just be a strange quirk of mine, but I doubt it. Most writers I know are slightly psychotic. Not in a bad way, mind you. Hearing voices makes for a much easier time when penning a piece of fiction.

Yes indeed, a writer is an interesting animal. Certain traits mark the species, and once you know what to look for, you’ll see them all over the neighborhood. Common identifying characteristics are:

A Tough Hide

Writers deal with rejection after rejection. Oh sure, there are a few successes sprinkled in the mix, but most often not. A true writer feels the pain then moves on…and the scars make for some great stories.

Solitary Tendencies

A writer is not a herd dweller. Give them a laptop and they vanish. Even a lousy piece of paper and a pen will have the same effect.

Unique Hoots and Howls

Walk up to a suspected writer and say, “So…what are you working on?” Then stand back and listen. There’s a musical lilt in the tone of an author explaining their latest and greatest.

Now that you can successfully identify one of the writerly beasts, it’s important to understand their care and feeding. Writers not only crave encouragement, they need it to survive. Here are a few tips to keep these animals from becoming extinct…

Mail out a handwritten note.

Guess what…writers love words and they especially love words that support them in all their ups and downs. I’m not talking pages of epic praise. A simple you-go-girl will suffice.

Be a name dropper.

Tell your friends, family and countrymen about your writer buddy’s latest accomplishment, then be sure to let your writer know what kind of lovely anti-gossip you’ve been spreading around.

Write a review.

Yes, authors do look at their reviews on Amazon, so post one. And while you’re at it, stick one up on Goodreads and Barnes & Noble, too.

Visit their blogs.

This might seem counterintuitive being that writers are often solitary, but they do like to see comments on their blogs. It’s comforting for them to know someone actually reads what they write. You don’t have to be a daily visitor. Just pop in now and then and leave a short note.

These are just a few suggestions. Put on your thinking cap, then get out there and encourage a writer today.

Michelle’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas...professionally, however, for the past 10 years. When not squirreled away with laptop in hand, she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op.

You can find Michelle at:

www.mmgriep.com

http://writerofftheleash.blogspot.com/

New Year, New Goals

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

What writing goals do you have this year? Hey everyone, Annette here. Following Dee Bright's awesome post on Monday about setting goals, have you had a chance to write any down? I tend to compartmentalize, which I’ll explain in a moment. But I do have overall goals, like always working to better my writing craft.

I have a deadline in March to hand in my full ms. That will keep me pretty busy until then. So for now, my year is broken into that project until 3/15, and then I’ll set other goals. (See? Compartmentalized.) Last year I wrote a dollar download in March. Maybe I’ll work on another one following handing in my manuscript. But I see a little problem there: maybe.

If I’m not careful, this might end up being a meandering sort of year.

How do you like to work? Set specific goals with timelines/deadlines? Or just let whatever happens, happen? In my experience, there’s a much better chance that something will actually happen if I prayerfully set specific goals with deadlines. How about you?

The key is to discover the best way you work and to not let yourself off too many hooks. *wink* Chances are, as a writer, you are your own boss. As such, you have to employ discipline in order to plant yourself in a chair and pound out words, am I right?

So if you haven't, I encourage you to prayerfully set specific goals for this year. Write them down. Hold yourself to them. Find accountability partners (this is key for staying motivated and for mutual encouragement), and get to work.

You can make your goals this year. You can get another glimpse of your dreams coming true. God will plant (or nurture) dreams in your heart and fulfill them. He’s faithful.

Now, you be faithful. Ready, set, write! And have a great year!

Ask O: I Can’t Seem to Win. What’s Wrong with My First Fifteen?

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends! Today’s Ask O question is about those first few pages. I’m just going to touch on one component to making our openings sparkle—but a really important one! Story Question.

A few years ago I was honored to judge a writers contest. I read the first few pages—a couple scenes—of the contestants’ novels. Unfortunately, one thing missing in most of the entries was Story Question. In the amount of pages I received, this character component should’ve been clearly defined, but most left it out completely. Whether you’re entering a contest or working on your first chapters for a proposal, Story Question is a vital component in those first pages.

What’s Your Problem?
“A question to be considered, solved, or answered.” That’s the dictionary definition of the word problem. Perfect! Story Question is the character’s problem that must be solved. The deep longing of her heart that aches for resolution. She won’t have rest, peace, or happiness until she finds a satisfying resolution to this one issue. It propels every aspect of the story until finally, with a huge sigh and a flood of relief, she resolves it in the end. Phew!

For Example…
I just read The Help. Wow what a book. In my humble opinion, you could describe the three main characters’ story questions like this:

Aibeleen: Will she find the courage to not only teach the little girl the truth, but find the truth of her own life?

Skeeter: Will she break from the only life she’s known to take opportunities she’s always longed for?

Minnie: Will she leave behind an abusive relationship to be able to give and receive love?

(What do you think? Did I properly define these?)

Can you define your character’s story question in one sentence? It’s really worth the time and effort to nail this. I’ve found a spot-on Story Question not only adds clarity and emotional connection to my first chapter, it helps me frame my complete plot and character arc. Try it!

Next week I’ll offer some practical questions to ask your character as you build her Story Question.

Don’t forget to leave your writing questions in the comments or on Ocieanna.com.

Happy Writing!

Ocieanna

My Castle in the Air

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

I saw a quote by Henry David Thoreau last week onFacebook. It was a sentence from Walden that read,

“Ifyou have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is wherethey should be. Now put the foundations under them.”[1]

That’s what I’m trying to do this year, buildfoundations for my castle in the air.

Many of my writer friendshave a word for the year. I actually have two words, “fear not.” Did you knowthere are at least 63 instances of that phrase in the Bible (KJV)? And inalmost every reference, it's used as an encouragement when someone was aboutto see God in action. (That’s exciting in some ways, but in others it gives meeven more reason to be afraid. Ack!)

Resources for Change

I’ve made some changes tomy daily routine. In addition to my daily Bible reading, I’m also reading somenew blogs and books on the craft of writing and leadership. Money is a littletight this year due a major surgery and some hospital stays last year, but Ifound some resources that are very helpful (and most are free).

Michael Hyatt – Intentional Leadership.In addition to great articles for writers and ministry leaders, he offers afree book called, Creating Your PersonalLife Plan, which offers some great advice on how to setting priorities andmeeting goals.
Goins, Writer: On Writing, Ideas and Making aDifference. Jeff Goins has great ideas and advice for writers, bloggers andthose in ministry positions. His last couple of posts has been on living a goal-less life. (He emphasizes actually making changes to your life rather than setting goals.) You can download his book, The Writer’s Manifesto, after joininghis weekly newsletter list and getting his great posts delivered right to your email box.
I’m also readingYour100 Day Prayer by John I. Snyder. It’s a great devotional written to guidethe reader through a 100-day period of prayer during a crisis. It offerspractical tips, supporting Scripture and guided prayer ideas. (I got it free through BookSneeze - an arm of Thomas Nelson that offers books in exchange for honest reviews by bloggers. My review of this book will be very positive.)
I’m also doing a personal Verse of the Day and a Thought of the Day. Each day I prayfor God to lead me to a verse, quote or thought to help me keep my mind on Himand my writing. They may come from the resources above, my daily Bible readingor even from social media like Facebook or Twitter. I note these on my calendar because you’d be surprised how much comfort I get when Ireview these.
Last of all, Icount You as my resource – a very important one. Knowing that I’m responsiblefor offering quality content to a group of writers keeps me on my toes andmakes me accountable. Thank you for reading our blog and thank you so much foryour prayers and support.

A Biblical Promise

As I continue on mywriting journey, I know there will be more obstacles ahead. I know there willbe struggles as I try to finish my novel on time. But I also know that the Lordhas told me to, “Fear not.” I have to hold onto the promise that:

“Because of the Lord's great love we are notconsumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great isyour faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23, (NIV)

I'd love to know: do you have a word of the year? What are you doingthis year to help meet your resolutions? - Angie

[1] Henry David Thoreau. BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc, 2012.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrydavid105332.html, accessedJanuary 7, 2012.

Jumpstart Your Writing by Dee Bright

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Could you use a little help with goal setting this year? Dee Bright is here to share some great tips! Here's to a productive writing year, dear friends! ~ Annette

Jumpstart Your Writing

by Dee Bright

Do you ever experience those times you just can’t seem to squeeze the words onto the page?

It may be your crazy schedule, or an absence of self-discipline—or perhaps a lack of real commitment. If you’re at all like me, it may be a little of all three.

Of late I have been neglecting my writing. I’m talking months here, not just days or weeks. I’ve let anything and everything distract me. Oh, I’ve made some great excuses.

“The words just aren’t coming right now. Tomorrow I’ll get a fresh start. Yeah. Tomorrow I’ll spend the WHOLE DAY writing!”

“I really should get a note off to my Aunt Hazel—that’s writing, right?”

“I’ll just take a little break. Maybe I’ll get motivated after checking in with my friends on Facebook…”

“The grass is growing.”

“The wind is blowing.”

Excuses. Avoidance. Distractions.

I really do want to write. I feel called to write. So, I’ve decided, first off, to make the commitment. And next, to formulate a plan to make it happen.

In the past I've been motivated by "big picture" goal planning, so just last week I dug out the trusty "Goal Planning Worksheet" I developed in my executive coaching days. In its new and revised form it is now a "Goal Planning for Writers” worksheet. The form requires me to:

• begin by bathing the goal-setting process in prayer

• write out a clearly defined and very specific goal—for the week, month, year, or project

• think about WHY accomplishing the goal is important to me personally—for me that will include my passion to write, my call to write, and more

Next, it gives me space to identify the specific Action Steps necessary to reach my goal, along with Target Times/Dates and Completion Times/Dates.

Then I'm challenged to:

• identify potential obstacles—both practical (disruptions and time crunches) and "mental" (fears, negative thoughts, and untrue beliefs)—along with possible solutions and scriptural truths that defy the lies that sometimes disrupt my writing journey

• brainstorm who I can enlist for support and how they can support me

• list any additional resources I will need

As an added bonus, the worksheet asks me to:

• write out scriptures and affirmation statements to support my ongoing efforts

• get real by committing to specific things I will do each day to stay on target

• brainstorm and record ways I can keep my goal "alive and challenging"

It ends with me writing down ways I can celebrate my success! For ongoing progress, I like to reward myself—with chocolate or a nice cup of tea. When my MS is finished, I’m planning to invite friends to celebrate with me!

I find that when I commit my goals to paper, then put them where I can review them at the beginning of each day, it makes a huge difference in my perseverance and my productivity.

I'm planning to do one worksheet for my overall goals for my WIP, then begin doing one each week for my weekly goals. I'll keep both the "master goal" and the "weekly goals" where I can see them and quickly review them every writing day.

If you want a copy of my worksheet, contact me at deebrightwrites [at] gmail.com and I'll email you a copy.

Happy New Year, and may your fingers fly on your keyboard!

How about you? Have you made a real commitment to your writing?

What keeps you writing, even when time constraints interfere and when you just don’t feel like it?

~~~~~~

Dee Bright is an author and speaker. She loves her involvement with women’s ministry and enjoys speaking for Christian conferences and retreats. In her former life, Dee was a leadership/management consultant and executive coach.

Her first non-fiction book, The Divine Romance—Going to God with the Longings Only He Can Fulfill, was published by Revell/Baker Publishing Group in 2008. Presently she is working on her first novel, a contemporary suspense set in Northern California.

Dee lives near Sacramento and is a student at Fuller Seminary. Seeking always to “embrace the adventure of living for Christ,” Dee enjoys kayaking, hiking, traveling, photography, and gardening. She has a beautiful daughter, a wonderful son-in-law, and four adorable grandkids. You can read more about Dee at www.DeeBright.com

The Virtuous Inspirational Writer by Shirley Kiger Connolly

2012-01-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

Authors pen nonfiction articles and books. Some create stories filled with adventure, romance, mystery, suspense, or science fiction. As writers who write Christian material, we also desire to inspire and encourage our readers. We strive to give them hope and a yearning to draw closer to God. But how do we do that? Enjoy what author Shirley Kiger Connolly has to say about being an inspirational writer. ~ Dawn

The Virtuous Inspirational Writer

by Shirley Kiger Connolly

Would you say you're the kind of writer who wishes she could instill the knowledge she has gained in the Lord to the people she meets? How about to the world around her, to the people she loves, to the heroine she writes about?

That's the woman who decides to take God with her to every page of her manuscript.

A woman of inspiration is an encourager. She takes the time to sit at the Master’s feet, to learn of Him all she can (while continuing to hunger for more). She knows only then can she return to her computer with the confidence that God’s Spirit will go before her and shine through every word she writes on each page…through her voice, through her actions, through her deepest thoughts, through her emotions. Is that how you best instill God with your inspirational writing?

It is how we live as Virtuous Women…that woman with the strength of Gibraltar. You know her. She's you. Isn't she?

I see the inspirational-virtuous woman as devoted, unselfish, domesticated, not easily taken in by the world. Her heart seeks to be kind -- her eyes are far-seeing. She lives not to herself, nor does she seek to gain the kind of glory the world pursues. She lives beyond the little circle she's made for herself or her particular world, because she first chooses to live for the Lord who has chosen her lot whatever that may be. Perhaps she's not wonderfully successful to some, or maybe she is in the eyes of many, but to her it doesn’t matter. This is the virtuous woman the wise man in the 31st chapter of Proverbs spoke in detail about.

Is this you?

I love the virtuous woman, and want to be like her in every way. Her words come forth softly, yet she is able to get the point across. She can stop an argument with a single word or action. She beams about all that is good and right. She's not headstrong, selfish; but humble and respectful, dutiful and full of affection. Wisdom, we discover, is this woman's common speech because she rejects idle gossip. She is known by most as an encourager of good not evil.

Put yourself in her slippers, if you will. Think seriously about that woman of virtue every time you sit at your computer to write. Think about how she would come forth in the creation of her stories. Consider how she will respond to life, how others will see her in her home, in the ministry God gives her, while she's on the job, with her children…even while she's at rest.

Everything about her is wrapped up like a Christmas or New Year's package filled with love and honor to God, because she worships Him first and foremost. Because her workload doesn’t become too heavy and long that she has little strength to find that balance she needs to remain an inspiration to others.

That's the kind of woman who decides to take God with her to every page and in whatever she does. Is that you?

What is your foundation as you write?

Award-winning author Shirley Kiger Connolly majored in English and Journalism, then later became a graduate of Institute of Children’s Literature. Shirley enjoys penning historical fiction romances and nonfiction books of reflections. Shirley also teaches Koinonia women’s bible studies and speaks at women's retreats. On the side, Shirley loves designing her home and rearranging her furniture, cross-stitching and doing needlework, or watching old TCM movies. If she's not reading, researching, or working on her next book in her Decisions series, scheduled to release in October 2012, Shirley is singing or spending time with her chickens, dogs, and cats. She’s excited about her December free novella release, Tears of Two, a prequel to her recent August release, Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Decisions Book One) Both are both available at Desert Breeze Publishing now. All her books can also be found at any online bookstores. An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers; Shirley is also with Hearts through History Chapter of Romance Writers of America; and last but not least Faith-Hope-Love, RWA.

NOTE: Tears of Two is a FREE novella.

To find out more about Shirley, please visit:

www.shirleykigerconnolly.com

http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyKigerConnolly?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Shirley-Kiger-Connolly-Author-Page/155515914463370

https://twitter.com/?iid=am-167106996113227493676030600&nid=23+recipient&uid=16698543&utm_content=profile#!/shirleyhere

Anticipation, Expectation, and a Little Faith

2012-01-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

We recently finished celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Trees have been taken down, decorations have been packed away—and bathroom scales have been put back in view.

What comes next? Have you made a list of goals you want to accomplish this year? Do they include eating healthy, losing weight, getting fit, becoming more organized, and finding a better balance in your life? Many of us strive to be successful at those goals.

Have you also thought about what you want to accomplish in your writing journeys? You know … the milestones you want to reach. Without having a known destination, you’ll never get there.

It’s helpful to have a plan, or even an idea, of what we want the writing year to look like. However, we can get so wrapped up with what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it, that we forget we’re not alone. No matter how much we try to make things happen by hard work, will, and determination, God is still calling the shots. But while he leads, he also desires that we ask for direction so that we don’t get lost, wandering down a path we shouldn’t be treading on.

What if God has great plans for us? What if accepting his lead takes us on a much lovelier road with extraordinary scenery, refreshing water, and nourishing food along the way?

The children in the photo have faces filled with anticipation of diving into that platter of ice cream. Do you remember how excited you were as a child for Christmas and birthdays? You looked forward to finally opening your gifts and seeing what cool things were chosen specifically for you. If you’re a parent, you waited with expectation at the birth of your child. But there may have also been some fear as you wondered how you were going to handle parenthood.

To anticipate means to look forward to something. We’re excited, hopeful, and eager about something that is going to happen. We expect it to happen.

If we expect something to happen, we confidently believe it will happen. We have faith.

When we have faith, we believe or trust in something or someone without proof.

Anticipation and expectation bring excitement into our lives.

As we begin a new year, let us be filled with anticipation, expectation, and faith that God will do wonderful and great things in our personal and professional lives. Let’s leap into 2012 without fear, knowing that God leads the way and has the journey mapped out for us.

~ Dawn

Ask O: How Do I Give My Manuscript that Special Zing?

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday my writing friends,

You’ve read the writing blogs. Followed the gurus’ advice on creating multi-layered characters, enticing plot twists, powerful prose, but your manuscripts still skulk down the walk of rejection back to your inbox. “Ugh!” you lament, “What am I doing wrong?”

Of course, many reasons could exist for the rejection. However, in my experience, I've noticed a consistent missing element in the unpublished manuscripts clogging my computer files.

Emotion.

“Yeah, yeah,” you say. “I’ve heard that before.”

But! I don’t necessarily mean character emotion. You can zip over to any number of blogs to learn about that. I’m talking about Author Emotion. I’ve found when a manuscript of mine falls flat, even when all the parts sparkle, it’s because
I’m holding back, I don’t care quite enough.

So, what does this desperate author do about this?

It’s not easy. And it’s not simple. But I have to let go.

I often keep myself locked up, separate from my characters. I think of them as other people I’m telling a story about. And this is wrong. They aren’t other people. They aren’t friends, family members, or even loved ones—they are me. And I have to eject myself out of my safe zone and plunge into their feelings. I mean seriously experience the loss of her loved one, or his agony of living without friends, or her gratitude over saving her baby's life. Not conjecture how it could feel. Or merely rely on a Googled psychological study about the effects of abandonment. It’s not even going through the emotional journey with my hero, it’s being my hero.

Can you see why this is terrifying? We all know the first rule of writing fiction is to be mean to our characters. I heap layer upon layer of broken relationships, lost jobs, failed goals, physical pain, death, and more on them. And for the story to have that extra zing it must feel true. In a way, it must be true. True emotions coming from the depths of my soul.

I’ve learned to dig deep down. As far as I can go. I sob, I laugh, in my first draft I write outlandishly and as close to the edge as I can bear. This seems to help transform my writing from good to excellent, from flat to full of life. It’s painful and exhausting, but no one ever said writing would be easy.

I challenge you to try this. Let go of your pre-conceived boundaries. Forget about the rules—at least for one draft—and let your emotions explode on the page. Then tell me if your writing zings. I’d love to know.

God bless you and happy writing!

Ocieanna

After the Glitter, Get Inspired by Dianne Christner

2012-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

When the glitter settles, I often discover that my creativity has gravitated from the work place to family, friends, and holiday festivities. In other words, it goes into play mode. Christmas can leave me feeling unmotivated to return to the hard task of writing. When this happens, a pep talk is in order to remind the creative side of my brain that it loves writing. I find it helpful to think about a time when I was able to produce and convince myself that I’m capable of doing so again. I try to focus on the positive and not entertain negative thoughts or lingering distractions so that I can prepare the way for my inner writer to quicken.

I know that I must allow the left side of my brain (the logical or analytical side) to provide a safe uncluttered place for my creative right side to emerge.

In other words, I clean up the glitter. For me, it’s getting my hair done, putting away the Christmas decorations, and cleaning off my desk and workspace. I organize my desk and schedule and make necessary adjustments to reincorporate my writing time. I order a calendar for the upcoming year. I often need to re-prioritize my writing goals and ask, “What is my next step? What day and time will I begin?” I allow my left side to formulate a plan for my inner writer, rather like one friend spurring another to do something great.

With the glitter removed, I coax my right side to get back to my fiction writing.

I stoke the dim flickering desire by intentionally doing things that heat up the inspiration. I may read a book on writing, go to a writing blog, or connect with another writer. I dig out the inspirational quotes. If I’m lazy, I may read a novel or two. I think about my readers.

When my motivation intensifies, I know it’s time to get started.

Even if it doesn’t, when the designated appointment time arrives, I sit at my desk. It feels familiar like I’m coming home again. I begin by reading what I last wrote or looking over my plot outline. When my creative mind knows I mean business, it will emerge–sometimes slow and sulky and other times eager and crashing through the gates. My lips quirk into a smile and my fingers glide over the keyboard. It may feel rusty, but I know this isn’t the time for me to worry about perfection, but just be thankful that I’m writing again.

How do you go from glitter to inspired?

Dianne lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where life sizzles, at least in the summer when temperatures soar above 100 degrees. Before writing, Dianne balanced a career of office management with raising a family and serving the Lord in her local church.

She has been married for thirty-nine years. Dianne and Jim have two married children, Mike and Rachel, and five grandchildren.

With several historical fictions to her credit, she hopes you enjoy her new contemporary series - The Plain City Bridesmaids. If you want to learn more about Dianne's writing and personal life, visit her blog. She loves interacting with her readers.

Rewriting a Fairy Tale for the Christian Market by Gail Sattler

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, writers! Ever tried to adapt a fairy tale into a modern-day story, or tried to rework it for a Christian audience? Gail Sattler has a new release coming in March entitled Seattle Cinderella, and she's here to share her tips on reworking those timeless stories for the inspirational market. Enjoy! ~ Annette

Rewriting a Fairy Tale for the Christian Market

by Gail Sattler

To rewrite a fairy tale for the Christian market can be a challenge because most fairy tales use magic or spells to make the story happen, and taking that out will drastically change the story. But in order to be true to the fairy tale, that story must be adhered to, or it’s not the same story. Sometimes it can be a simple substitution, but the reader must find a parallel telling of the original story or they will be disappointed. The writer has to come as close as possible without adding magic, to make the story happen in a realistic way. Since I’ve just rewritten Cinderella – Seattle Cinderella (www.seattlecinderella.com) is coming out in March 2012 – I’ll use that for my example.

It’s almost an oxymoron to use the phrase “suspension of belief” when rewriting a fairy tale. For the Christina market, the writer must take something unrealistic from the fairy tale, and make it believable and realistic. But because people know and love the original fairy tale, that which was the suspension of disbelief is what is considered true and real. Then the Christian writer must take something unrealistic and change it to being realistic, which becomes the suspension of belief. I hope that made sense.

The key to rewriting a fairy tale is to stick as closely to the plot as you can, keeping the same key story points as a primary focus.

It was an easy substitution to change the horse and carriage to an orange taxi-cab when she escaped from the ball at midnight. The harder part was that the reader expects her to flee at midnight, which is a key plot point. The trick was to make a realistic reason for her to flee at midnight. As well, in a contemporary setting, the prince is bigger and stronger, and faster, than our heroine. Why doesn’t he catch her? All these details must be worked in realistically, knowing that the realistic element is the suspension of disbelief.

Likewise with other plot points. Whatever the reason they happened in the fairy tale, parallel plot points must be made to follow with the original story that fit into a contemporary setting.

Once you have figured out how to make the reader accept the parallel, the rest is just story.

~~~~~

Gail Sattler lives in Vancouver BC with her husband, 3 sons, 2 dogs, and a lizard named Bub who is quite cuddly for a reptile when he isn't eating her houseplants. When Gail isn't writing she plays piano for the worship team at her Mennonite Brethren church, or electric bass for a local jazz band, and in the new year she's going to try out a community orchestra with her acoustic double bass. When Gail is writing, she writes tales of love, always faithful to the happily-ever-after ending readers of romance have come to know and love. Learn more about Gail and her writing at her website. Watch for her anthology, Seattle Cinderella, coming in March, 2012 from Barbour Publishing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! Your hostesses here at Seriously Write wanted to wish you the happiest of Christmas seasons and a blessed year ahead!

We'll be taking a week off to celebrate the holidays. In the meantime, if you're interested in reading great articles on writing craft, interviews, devotionals, or inspirational how-I-broke-into-publishing accounts, please check our archives.

In the new year, you can expect more fantastic articles from more of your friends and fellow authors on this writing journey. We'll keep the inspiration and encouragement coming beginning again on January 2, 2012.

Have a great holiday week, dear friends. And God bless you!

By God’s Clock— Not Mine by Anne Mateer

2011-12-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

The writing journey can be filled with ups and downs—small successes, followed by failures and discouragement. We dig in, we hope, we pray … and we strive to trust that God knows what he’s doing. Be encouraged, dear friends, by author Anne Mateer’s personal journey to publication. ~ Dawn

By God’s Clock—

Not Mine

by Anne Mateer

Early in my girlhood, I dreamed of becoming an author. Then I fell in love. Got married. Had three babies.

My babies grew. The last one traipsed off to kindergarten, leaving days free to write. A year later, I finished my first ever novel. The next year the Lord let me to a writers group. Year three took me to a national writers conference. I submitted the beginning of my novel— and got a request for the full manuscript from an agent!

This is it, I thought. But nothing happened.

I went to soccer games and class parties, basketball games and field trips. I wrote another novel. And another. I entered the Genesis contest— and reached the finals.

This is it, I thought.

I didn’t place. And though I sent it to a few agents, nothing happened.

I reevaluated my writing, my genre, drove endless rounds of school and music lessons, practices and games. I turned forty, battled with my oldest. I survived her driving a car, the boys reaching their teens. I enjoyed a bit of freedom.

Another novel flew from my fingertips. This one was good. I knew it was good. It reached the Genesis final round. An editor at the conference asked for the full manuscript.

This is it, I thought. It’s my time. But nothing happened.

Nothing but rejection and tears and wondering if I’d wasted time and energy and money on something I was never meant to do.

Start again, I heard. And He gave me the strength to obey.

I wrote in the midst of the excitement and sorrow of my daughter’s senior year. Again, a Genesis entry. Again, a spot in the finals.

This is nothing, I thought. Nothing but a word of encouragement. We celebrated graduation, put my in-laws back on the plane home. And one of the judges requested my manuscript.

This is exciting, I thought, but still no guarantee. We left our daughter at college. I incorporated revisions suggested by the editor. Resubmitted.

This is a great way to learn, I thought. My own private writing class. But it’s not a promise. Not a contract.

At least it wasn’t until that editor called as we arrived at my daughter’s dorm room to bring her home for the summer.

Looking back I see that all the times I thought This is it! would have resulted in disaster. I wasn’t ready— as a writer, as a person. Neither was my family. But I couldn’t see any of that at the time. Instead, the wait was frustrating. Sometimes it seemed pointless and unfair. But now I see purpose in the delay. I see how much I’ve grown in faith, in learning to trust God with the desires of my heart. How that has spilled over into my marriage, my parenting, my friendships. How much richer my life is for the waiting.

I’m so glad God measured the time by his clock instead of mine.

Armed with a history degree and a vivid imagination, Anne Mateer combines a love of history with a love of story. After years of honing the craft of fiction, she finally realized her dream of publication with Wings of a Dream. Her second work of historical fiction, At Every Turn, will hit bookstores in September of 2012. Anne and her history-loving husband live in Dallas and are the parents of three young adults.

To find out more about Anne and her books, please visit:

www.annemateer.com

www.twitter.com/annemateer

www.facebook.com/authorannemateer

This and That Thursday: Three Lessons from a Carol

2011-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to This and That Thursday.

I thought a Christmas-themed post would be most appropriate, being as its three days till Christmas. Don't you think? The big day is coming fast, but to my kids, three more days seems like forever. We still have to wait, wait, wait ...

That’s what the Advent season is all about--reflecting on the coming King, remembering how long His people waited for the promised Messiah. With that in mind, I’ve been meditating on an Advent carol called, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” Ah, it’s water to the soul. I love it for many spiritual reasons, but as a writer, I also love its rich images and emotional impact.

Just for fun, I’m going to take a look at a few of the awesome skills the author of this hymn used to make it magnificent. Many of the greatest writing lessons I’ve learned have been from simply studying the masters’ works, so hopefully this will provide useful tools for your journey.

Call it an Advent literary analysis. We'll look at one stanza at a time.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

What strikes me first is the cadence. In both my fiction and non-fiction, it’s easy to blurt out words without rhythm. But sculpting beautiful sound into my writing (or at least a purposeful sound) is like a gift to the readers’ inner voice. A pattern of beat also adds to the story’s depth. This poem rings of an almost eerie awe over the indescribable gift our eternal, almighty, holy God has given by descending to earth. The rhythm adds to that feel, draws us in, so we more clearly see the truth it conveys.

Lesson 1: Cadence enhances our points and makes reading our works delightful.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Repeated irony flows through this stanza.

The king of kings—born of Mary.
Lord of lords—human vesture
Give himself for heavenly food.

This teaches me the power of irony. The Christian life is riddled with the stuff! Love your enemies. The first will be last. Die to live. The culture would never tell you to love your enemies, be last to succeed, or give up your life for another. These truths are otherworldly. That’s why they are so powerful. As Christian authors we have the privilege of communicating these heavenly truths. And they resonate especially because they so contrast the world.

Lesson 2: The many ironies in the Christian faith provide great material for our uniquely Christian offerings.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

Concrete images! My college literature teacher drilled this into my head. Studying poetry, we discovered that the greatest poems don’t flow with theoretical truths, but rather utilize real images (or a single image) to show the truth. The author of this hymn does this with immaculate precision.

The image of the angelic host on its way to earth as Christ the Light is born visually impacts my imagination. Can’t you just see it? The use of precise words also shines. The angels come from heaven—“the realms of endless day.”

And then the powers of hell vanish as the Light clears the darkness away. Clear, compact, concise.

But more than just stirring the imagination, these masterfully etched images bring home the impact of Christ’s incarnation in ways a more straightforward telling could not.

Lesson 3: Concrete images! For greatest impact, use them whenever possible.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High

I’ll leave this one for you to analyze. What lessons do you learn from this stanza or the others? Do you read the "greats" in order to enhance your writing skilss? Share your thoughts!

Merry Christmas, my writing friends!

Ocieanna

Ask O: How Do I Deliver a Tantalizing Opening? Part Two In Medias Res

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday before Christmas, my writing friends!

Today we finish our discussion on those muy importante opening scenes. Last week we covered a few things to avoid. Today we'll look at some examples of how to make your openings enticing.

In Medias Res
I wanted to look smart so I threw in a Latin phrase. What it means is, “in the middle of things.” And that’s a great spot for an opening should start. Whether the opening is quick-paced or slow or whether it focuses on character, setting, or plot, a reader loves jumping into something already zipping along. Examples:

Character: From the book Black by Christian author, Ed Decker.

Carlos Missirian was his name. One of his many names.
Born in Cyprus.
The man who sat at the opposite end of the long dining table, slowly cutting into a thick red steak, was Valborg Svensson. One of his many, many names.
Born in hell.

Feel the suspense? In just a few lines, the author has fashioned language and striking images (the “thick red steak”) to dump us into a room with a dangerous character. How will we get out? What’s Valborg going to do? We must keep reading to find out.

Setting: The delightful opening from Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place.

I jumped out of bed that morning with one question in my mind—sun or fog? Usually it was fog in January in Holland, dank, chill, and gray. But occasionally—on a rare and magic day—a white winter sun broke through.

We know by the title of this chapter that the character anticipates a birthday party. We feel her jumping out of bed. We seek the sky for the weather. We want to go to the party!

Plot: From Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers

“But if he thought the woman was being murdered—”
“My dear Charles,” said the young man with the monocle, “it doesn’t do for people, especially doctors, to go about ‘thinking’things. They may get into frightful trouble.”

If there was any doubt we were in a murder mystery, there’s not now.

The main goal of an opening is to drag your potential reader from her own humdrum existence into a world she can't resist. And that's just what plunging her into the middle of a well-crafted world does.

In closing, have fun with your openings. Create your best, most exciting opening possible ... then imagine how it could be even more enticing. And don't forget to avoid back story, flashbacks, and too much description.

Happy Writing and Merry Christmas, my writing friends.

Ocieanna

When in Doubt by Linda Condolora

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

The dreaded blank page - some days it is our nemesis, somedays, a symbol of endless possibilities. Too many times, instead of fueling mycreative juices, the blank page has filled me with doubt. I have found myself staringat the page as questions invaded my mind, one after another. What do you have to say that anyone couldpossibly want to read? Who are you to call yourself a writer? Why not just giveup writing – life would be easier. DidGod really call you to write? I’m learning to ignore those thoughts andremind myself of the importance of what we do as writers. If you ever findyourself doubting and questioning why you write, let me share with you somefacts that help me and hopefully, will help you as well.

First and foremost, words matter to God. For example, Hecommands the Jews, in Exodus 20:7, not to misuse His name. And in Matthew12:36-37, Jesus warns that we will have to give an account for the words wespeak and be acquitted or condemned by them. Obviously, God cares about the spokenword. But what I find more interesting is how important the written word is toHim. Back to Exodus 20:7. This verse is part of what we call the TenCommandments and the Jews call the Law. God did not depend only on word of mouthor prophecy to communicate with His people. He also used the written word.Here, He even did the writing Himself. Exodus 31:18 tells us, “he gave him(Moses) the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by thefinger of God.” God used the written word to communicate His law to His people,and it was written in His own hand.

Second, God calls some from among His people to write. Theentire Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by men of God, was writtendown and painstakingly copied – every jot and tittle – so we would have thevery words of God in our hands today. God used His people then to write Hisword, and He is still using people to write down His message for everyone toread. At some point, you became aware of God’s call to write and you answeredit. It is a difficult calling and can be lonely, but it is an important task tobe undertaken. Whether you write fiction,non-fiction, devotionals or Bible studies, God has chosen you to get Hismessage out to the people.

So, the next time you face the blank page and begin doubtingthe call, remind yourself of how highly God values the spoken and written word.Take some time to recall the moment you realized He had called you to write forHim. Remember, He chose you from among His people for this task, and Goddoesn’t make mistakes. Then write. Write with the passion of one who is called.Write for Him.

Linda Condolora is a writer of Christian non-fiction, aspeaker and a teacher of Ladies’ Bible classes. She has had articles publishedin ChristianWoman Magazine, has beenthe keynote speaker at regional retreats and is currently working on her firstbook. She lives in central NY with her husband and enjoys studying the Word,scrapbooking and spending time with her family, including her newgranddaughter.

To find out more about Linda, book her for your event or connectwith her, please visit:

Web: http://www.lindacondolora.com

Blog: http://www.blog.lindacondolora.com

Speaking: http://www.speakergram.com/register_event/Linda_Condolora

http://www.womenspeakers.com/speakers/search.php?city=East%20Syracuse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.condolora

Twitter: @LindaCondolora

Christmas Treats Series: Christmas at Barncastle Inn

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

For our final feature in our Christmas Treats series, Darlene Franklin (one of the authors of the compilation Christmas at Barncastle Inn), is here to share some behind-the-scenes info. Grab a chair next to the Christmas tree, light a cinnamon-scented candle, and enjoy!

How did this project come about?

Lynette Sowell and I roomed together at ACFW conference one year. We’re both native New Englanders (now living in the southwest) and loved the idea of a Vermont setting for a Christmas story. Lots of beautiful Christmas snow in the Green Mountains!

After Lynette and I chose the setting, we decided to make a bed and breakfast the tie-together theme for the collection. Susan Page Davis suggested the “Christmas any time” idea; guests at the Barncastle Inn chose a time period they wish re-created during their stay. (a touch of Fantasy Island).

If this book is a compilation, tell us about that process. Was there a lot of collaboration? Do the stories all overlap? Is it key to read the book from first novella through to the last, etc.? Any advice for writers who are collaborating on a project?

Four authors wrote four separate stories. There is some degree of overlap; the couple from the first book end up running the Inn, and Matt (as carpenter) and Alec (as vet) appear in some of the other stories. We also worked on the layout of the main building, and the building converted for use in staging plays.

Collaborating? Work with people whose writing you trust. Recognize that you will need to be available to answer questions (anything from what color are their eyes to how far it is to town or what is the name of the diner).

What is the theme of your novella? How did you tie Christmas into the story? How did you go about choosing a theme for this story?

The theme for my story is that God can make something beautiful, even out of our mistakes. Waverly had a child out of wedlock—an experience she shares with the Virgin Mary. And Alec, like Joseph, wonders if he can be a father to her child.

When we were discussing what historical periods we wanted to cover, the idea of an unmarried mother occurred to me as soon as I decided to write about the first Christmas. The other settings are medieval, World War II, and pirates!

What is your best advice for writers working on a seasonal novel or novella? Did you set a mood as you wrote in order to get into the Christmas spirit? Did you write it at Christmastime in past years, or during the hot summer months? ;)

Becky Germany contracts Christmas novellas in the early fall, and the manuscripts are due in February; so we get to write them over Christmas! I am currently working on my novella for next year’s anthology (Merry Christmas, With Love in Postmark: Christmas). It’s a great strategy!

Before I wrote my first Christmas story, I wondered how you could come up with different stories year after year. Now I have written five, and hope to write more! As with so much in writing, start with an idea that excites you. Two of my novellas have been based on the biblical Christmas story. Another focused on a Christmas blizzard and yet another on a town named Christmas. Now I’m working on another great idea for next year. You’ll have to pardon me for not sharing it . . .

What are you hoping readers take away from your story? How will your story minister to readers? How can writers help their readers glean the takeaway?

God can and will redeem the places in our lives where we stray from His will.

The takeaway should be an integral part of the story, not something added on. Frequently in writing I think of a biblical passage that reflects on what is happening in the story. I have my characters wrestle with the truth. In First Christmas, Alec and Waverly reflect on the ways their lives reflect the experiences of Joseph and Mary as they portray the well known Christmas story.

Thank you for visiting Seriously Write in December! We wish you all His best this Christmas season and always.

Thanks so much!

~~~~~~

You can experience Christmas during the time period of your choice—if you rent the entire Barncastle Inn of Vermont for the whole week of Christmas. When they first decided to do this, Jayne Barncastle is determined to prove to her parents it will work. Will she overlook her own chance for romance in the process? Will a World War II era “White Christmas” re-create a scene of forgiveness for an embittered couple? Can a pirate’s lair be the place of fun-filled reunion for old lovers? When coworkers assist in recreating the first Christmas for the inn, will they discover romance?

~~~~~~

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in cowboy country—Oklahoma—near her son’s family. She recently signed the contract for her twentieth novel. She is also a prolific devotional author with over 200 devotions in print. Visit Darlene’s blog at www.darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com.

The Winding Way of Writing by Lisa Lickel

2011-12-16T00:10:00.000-08:00

One of the wonderful things about writing in the Christian market is that authors are generous in sharing their knowledge and experience with other writers aspiring to be published. Today, author Lisa Lickel gives some helpful tips. If you look at her number 10 suggestion, you’ll see that she follows her own advice. Enjoy! ~ Dawn

The Winding Way of Writing

by Lisa Lickel

I am an historian. Really. I did my university studies in anthropology, geography, and world history. The closest I got to English was the history of the English language. Which I ended up quitting. When I moved into a historic home, helped start a local historical society and worked on press releases, articles and editing books, one of the members kindly told me, “You should be a writer.”

That comment stuck with me. I was gainfully employed at the time and took the Christian Writers Guild course and started selling my articles before I finished the two-year apprentice program. With the afore-mentioned nudge of encouragement, I began writing novels and a lot of other things in-between. The course was an excellent tool to show me what was important about writing and being professional at it. I learned a lot more about the ups and downs of writing partners, agents, contracts, public persona, and publishing connections when I joined larger writing communities, like American Christian Fiction Writers at the advice of a friend, and Wisconsin Writers Association. I diversified by learning to edit for others and picking up a couple of magazine gigs. I learned also that networking in person at conferences and making yourself available to speak and teach helps build name-recognition and a fan base, because, unlike Field of Dreams, the “if you write it, they will buy it” philosophy doesn’t work. Authors and publishers have to work hard to be heard in the great cacophony of the public market.

While writing may be a lonely business, it is a business. The bottom line is that being Published should not be a writer’s goal; being Read is your true goal. Whether hobby, career, or ministry, authors need readers, and friendship evangelism, or building relationships, is the key to making sure your gifts reach those who need them.

Some lessons in a nutshell:

1. Professionalism starts at the very beginning. Patience is a virtue. Take neither rejection nor flattery personally.

2. Find mentors and critique partners who can work together consistently and competently.

3. If you can’t write every day, learn something new every day. Enjoy.

4. Networking is as important as coming up with a good story.

5. Support other authors in many ways, such as through reviews, interviews, press releases, attending signings.

6. Go where the readers are. You’re a reader too!

7. Learn and practice social networking.

8. Stand on a solid promotion platform and be adaptable.

9. Moderation in all things: scheduling your time, adverbs, clichés, promotion, word count, submissions, saying “yes” and saying “no.”

10. Give something back.

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine and of OtherSheep, a Christian spec fiction/nonfiction magazine. She loves to encourage new authors. Find her at LisaLickel.com.

Now available: Meander Scar, A Summer in Oakville (with Shellie Neumeier), Lavender Dreams

Coming in April 2012, The Map Quilt

To find out more about Lisa and her books, please visit:

Web: http://www.lisalickel.com

Blogs: http://www.livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com

http://www.thebarndoor.net

http://reflectionsinhindsite.wordpress.com

Five Ways to Make It Happen by Lisa Harris

2011-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to believe that 2012 is right around thecorner. I always look forward to the New Year, as it’s a fresh start with newdreams, ideas, and goals. One thing that I’ve been thinking about lately iswhat I want to accomplish in the coming year and how I can get there. What aremy dreams in ministry, mothering, and writing?

Here are my five ways to make it happen. They might soundelementary, but for me it’s been a good reminder of how I can keep myself ontrack in following these dreams.

Start today, not tomorrow: I’lllet you in on a secret. You don’t have to wait until New Years Day to startworking on your goal. Okay, I know you know that, but if you’re like me, it’seasy to tell yourself that you’ll try again next January 1st. After monthsof too much Mexican food and all the other yummy things I love to eat while inthe US on furlough last year, we returned to Africa, but weeks went by, and Ikept putting off getting back into my normal exercise routine. Trust me, I hada lot of excuses and I was busy, but one day I decided it was time to stopmaking those excuses and lose those extra unwanted pounds. And to stop puttingit off. It would have been easy to just wait until January, but now, I’m soglad I didn’t keep waiting until tomorrow.

Take a leap of faith:Last year, Scott told me he wanted me to start a non-profit that would helpfund many of the projects needed to help people’s physical needs. To be honest,I didn’t see myself running a non-profit. At all. But the need was great, anddespite the fact that I felt ignorant on the subject I knew I needed to atleast try. In looking back over the past first year, I’ve been amazed at howGod has been so faithful, because it certainly wasn’t my brilliant marketingskills. To date, over $10,000 has been raised to build houses for the homeless,pay for medical care, fund micro-loans, distribute vitamins, pay for schoolsupplies for those in need and much more. So even if something is outside yourcomfort zone or normal box, don't let that stop you. Take a leap of faith andwatch God work!

Set small, daily goals: Thisis something I’ve learned to be essential in my writing. An entire 85,000-wordnovel is daunting…unless you tackle in small pieces. Set a goal for a week, a goalfor each day. Give yourself some wiggle room, and then go for it…One day at atime.

If you get off track,don’t beat yourself up: Let’s be honest, how many of us start fullspeed on our goals in January, but by March we’re completely off track. So whatdo we do? We quit. (I know, I’ve been there!) But think about it, it doesn’tmatter if it’s April or October, reset your goals, start moving toward them,and you’ll see progress. That progress is a huge motivation!

Find an accountabilitypartner: It always helps to have someone cheering for you, and it’seven better if they are reaching toward the same goal. Blog about your journey,join a group or a ministry to get you started, find a prayer partner, tell afriend and in turn you will see your motivation grow.

The bottom line is that it’s never too late to follow thatdream. I don’t care if you’re eighteen or eighty, God can use our talents,gifts and dreams. Just be willing to step out on faith and trust Him.

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one whospeaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with thestrength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised throughJesus Christ." I Peter 4:11

So what about you? What’s your dream? How can you startmaking it a reality today? I love to hear your thoughts as well as ways thathave helped you make it happen!

Be blessed,

Lisa

Lisa Harris is a wife, mom, teacher, author, dreamer,photographer, but most importantly a follower of Christ Jesus.

She currently live with her husband, Scott, and two of their childrennear the Indian Ocean in Mozambique as church-planting missionaries, while theiroldest is loving his first year at a missionary boarding school.

Ask O: How Do I Deliver a Tantalizing Opening? Three No-Nos to Avoid

2011-12-14T06:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends!

Today’s question reminds us to create opening scenes that grab readers into our stories, not bog down with too much back story and set up. Check out my three, “What Not to Do” tips then tune in next week for some practical helps to make your opening enticing.

Openings are important not just because they’re one of the few marketing points we actually control, but also because a good opening invites. “Come, join the party. You’ll see, it’ll be a lot of fun.” An opening must intrigue our readers so they can’t read just one (page that is).

Ax the Back Flash
How do we create a compelling opening? Let’s start with what not to do. I once read a book in which the first three pages were a back flash of a past dinner party. It tarried on and on with precise details about each family member. I soon discovered these characters weren’t players in the story, the dinner party had no real significance, and the details would never come up again, yet this scene was using up valuable “real estate” in the opening.

It’s better to begin with a character in her present situation. Show us what she’s like by the way she acts, not by some psychological word picture of her family dynamics. Yes, we should have her back-story ever in mind, but let’s not suffocate our readers with details.

Drowning in Background
Another problem is when we think we have to explain everything before we can “get to” the story. To help our readers, we flood our openings with background information. “But,” a writer pleads, “my readers need to know about the French Resistance between 1942 and 1945 to understand why my character is dropping from a parachute, don’t they?” They don’t. Just start the story with the parachute plunging. Show your character’s fears, worries, thoughts. Let us smell what he smells and see what he sees. That will make readers keep reading.

I know it’s hard, but everything we create about our characters, all those gold nuggets of research … it all shouldn’t go in our books. And especially not in our openings. Readers want to get involved in the story from the gate/start/get-go, and they’re smart enough to figure out the other stuff—even without us explaining.

I Get the Picture
Many old books precede their plots with hundreds and hundreds (it seems) of pages of description. Like the first chapter of Les Miserables. It’s a long, detailed description of the bishop’s house down to where each piece of furniture is placed. I’m not sure why past authors got away with this. Perhaps it’s because multi-media wasn’t stimulating their readers’ imaginations.

But nowadays, we can’t do it. Even the most exquisitely written opening description will likely cause a reader to plop that book back on the shelf if it drags for more than a couple paragraphs. No, we must sprinkle pithy descriptions in the midst of action, dialogue, and emotion. In a way, we must be even more creative than old Victor Hugo.

To Review:
1. Never start with a back flash that has no relevance to the character
2. Limit background material, especially in the opening
3. Sprinkle description in the midst of your story, not all at the beginning

We're off to a good start! Just knowing what not to do should give some focus to your openings. Don't forget to come back next week to find my insights on enticing readers in your opening.

In the mean time, what opening boo boos have you found? What else should we avoid? Share your insights!

Happy writing,
Ocieanna

Writing through Pain by Matt Patterson

2011-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever found yourself too overwhelmed to write? Life can throw all sorts of things at us: pain, heartache, depression, grief, sickness, etc. But if we are called to write, God can use those things to help us in our writing. Author Matt Patterson tells us about his own personal journey through grief to writing a message of hope.

~ Angie

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God says He always uses our pain, failures and scars to make us more effective in ministry. As I approach a new year with a recently completed book aimed at helping others, I ask myself a simple, but strong question.

How do I see Him using my pain to make me more effective in my ministry of writing?

For me, it started with a newspaper column that was going to be very difficult, yet very special to write. It was our first daughter’s birthday. I wanted to relay in this column how much she had taught and touched me in what seemed to be a very short time here on earth. This column was about my two-year-old daughter Emily, who about two years prior, had passed away after a brave battle with leukemia. Emily was also born with Down syndrome.

This column – as short as it could be – walked readers through her birth and eventual death. It told them of our shock and dismay at hearing words like Down syndrome and leukemia.

It was short.

It was sad.

It was touching and a tribute.

Nearly 20 years later, I find it was a release and that God turned my tragedy into blessing and grief into mission.

My Emily is my story of pain. This book is my small effort to help families who have special needs children, little ones battling cancer or those heartbroken parents who have lost a child. Writing continues to be a source of comfort for me. It’s an opportunity to help or touch someone – mothers, fathers, as well as writers.

Many of us have similar stories to tell. Painful stories.

The Bible tells us to, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

It’s my desire to share testimony that God uses our talents, gifts and pain to help others. In Ecclesiastes it reads, “Two are better than one … If one falls down, his friend can help him up.” My Emily is my tool to reach down and help others up.

In between baking cookies, wrapping gifts and mailing out Christmas cards, some of us are going to sit down and begin to plan our writing for the coming year. I ask each of you to remember one simple step in this process.

Pray over your work.

Pray over your plans.

I testify that when we bow our heads and pray over our work, He will guide our hearts and minds to deliver messages that will indeed help others up.

Matt Patterson is the author of My Emily and an award-winning communications professional. His two-plus decades of experience include public and media relations, as well as print and broadcast journalism. He volunteers his time to helping organizations and charities dedicated to assisting families with children who have special needs or those battling pediatric cancers. He resides in Arizona with his wife and two daughters.

To purchase My Emily, click here.

Websites: http://mattpatterson.me, http://www.my-emily.org

Twitter: @myemily_thebook

Facebook: Matt Patterson, Author

Christmas Treat Series: A Log Cabin Christmas

2011-12-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy reading Christmas stories during the holiday season, you're in for a treat this Mixing-it-Up Monday. Recently, I interviewed author Liz Johnson about the new nine-in-one compilation called A Log Cabin Christmas. She's one of the nine contributing authors. This collection hit the New York Times bestseller list in September, shortly after its release. See the note dated September 28th from the editor, Becky Germany, here. Congratulations to everyone involved! Relax and enjoy this second Christmas treat. ~ Annette

How did this project come about?

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection really came about because of Becky Germany, the brilliant fiction editor at Barbour. She had a vision for a book that featured stories set in American log cabins in the 1800s and invited authors to submit their novella proposals. I have no idea how many proposals Becky received. I just know that after a couple months of waiting on pins and needles, I received a very kind rejection note. Yep. Becky had filled all the slots and couldn't use my story. I was terribly sad, but loved my story so much that I couldn't just give it up. I was busy thinking of places it might fit, when I received a call, email, and text from my agent--all of which I missed! As I understand it, another author was unable to participate, and Becky offered me the vacant spot. I'm so glad she did!

This is a novella compilation. Tell us about that process. Was there a lot of collaboration? Do the stories overlap? Is it key to read the book from first novella through to the last, etc.? Any advice for writers who are collaborating on a project?

Each of the novellas in the collection is written by a different author and completely self-contained, so readers can enjoy them in any order. We didn't officially collaborate on the writing portion. Unofficially, however, I was honored to work with Michelle Ule, who authored A Dogtrot Christmas. She suggested we swap stories and give each other feedback. Her suggestions really improved my story, and I ended up with the easiest edit I've ever had. My only advice for other authors working on a compilation like this one is to be open to feedback from their fellow authors and especially their editors. Editors get to see the big picture of the collection long before the authors do.

What is the theme of your novel or novella? How did you tie Christmas into the story? How did you go about choosing a theme for this story?

My novella, A Star in the Night, is about Cora Sinclair, a woman who serves at a field hospital toward the end of the Civil War. She sees things at the hospital that stay with her, invading her dreams and leaving her terrified of being a woman in love with a man who might never come back from the war. Following the Battle of Franklin in Tennessee on November 30, 1864, Cora finds a wounded union soldier and takes him back to the cabin she shares with her grandfather. But as she's nursing Jed back to health, Cora's nightmares continue. And it's Jed who challenges her to cast her cares at the feet of Jesus. The theme grew naturally out of the situation and the characters. I just tried to imagine how I would react to seeing that kind of pain and loss. It stays with a person and can cause anxiety. But the Bible is pretty clear that we're to cast all of our cares on Him. And the Christmas tie-in, again, came naturally out of the time of year. Cora makes Jed promise not to leave until Christmas, as he's still recovering. As he's stuck there, they plan their Christmas celebration.

I'm so glad I didn't have to write this during the summer, or I would have had a terrible time getting into the Christmas spirit. :) I signed my contract on this one in October, so I could have—maybe should have—written it in December. But like any good procrastinator, I waited until after Christmas to really dive into it. So my little tree and lights stayed up in my apartment clear through January. I refused to take them down with the hope that they'd help keep me in the spirit. I think they did their job pretty well. I do find that regardless of the time of year, looming deadlines always get me in the mood to write what I need to. :)

What are you hoping readers take away from your story? How will your story minister to readers? How can writers help their readers glean the takeaway?

I hope readers will be encouraged to let go of their worry and fears and be reminded that God cares for them. I think it's easy to forget that God cares about the things that weigh heavy on our hearts, and the only way to truly get through them is to lay them at his feet. Writers each have their own way of sharing the takeaway of their stories, so I'd suggest they write what feels natural and authentic to them.

Thank you for visiting Seriously Write in December! We wish you all His best this Christmas season and always.

Thanks for having me!

~~~~

Liz Johnson is a full-time marketing specialist by day and a writer by night. She makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys exploring the history of the area, theater, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Follow her misadventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.