Back To Writing Basics

I returned from my trip to Arizona and last night met with the students at our final Novel Writing class. Most of the time, these last classes are a mixture of questions, student readings and a flurry of conversation as they exchange contact info and make plans for keeping their writing flowing. Last night, though, I found myself delivering a message of encouragement and hope.
Writing Tip for Today: Wherever you are on the Writing Road, if no one takes time to encourage you, you'll be far more likely to stop writing altogether. We must believe in ourselves, sure, but there's nothing like a kind word to stave off the writing blues. Have you encouraged or been encouraged lately? Here are some thoughts if you are facing a down day in front of the keyboard:

• Nobody Does It Like You. You are unique--your background, attitudes, beliefs contribute to your writing style, perspective and interests. Just because another writer has written a love story for instance, doesn't mean you shouldn't write your own. Never forget that you see the world in a way no one else does.
• There Is a Season. What is rejected today (too edgy, no one's buying your kind of book, too this, not enough that) may be in demand tomorrow. If you believe in an idea or a book, you may have to put it on the back burner for now, but don't give up on it.
• Never Stop Learning. Writing is a craft. You are learning that craft. Even successful authors must always keep honing their skills, improving their story ideas, perfecting their voices. Wherever you are on the path, be encouraged today.

Guest Post: Florence Littauer/Gerry Wakeland

Don't Die With the Story Still In You
By Florence Littauer and Gerry Wakeland

I had just settled into my seat when I heard the pastor say, “I see that Florence Littauer is with us this morning.” I was scheduled to speak for the women of the church later that evening and had slipped into the sanctuary for the Sunday morning service. As I started to stand acknowledging the introduction I heard him continue, “Let’s have her share our children’s sermon.” I was stunned. I had never given a children’s sermon before.

As I made my way to the front of the church I asked the Lord for a scripture and Ephesians 4:29 popped into my mind. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (KJV) I was running out of time. This would have to do.

I gathered the children around me and began to teach. I spoke to the children about how our words needed to be kind and loving, building up those around us. As I finished one little girl stood up, turned to the congregation and said, “What she means is, our words should be like a little silver box with a bow on top.” I knew this message was a keeper.

I have shared the story of this message of “Silver Boxes” hundreds of times with thousands of people reminding them of the weight of our words. Often following my presentation someone will come to me and remark, “The words I say to my husband, to my children, to others, are not very nice. I need to do some things differently.” This message has changed lives, saved marriages and encouraged many a wayward young person.
We all have a story to share, a message to impart. Often it is a story that can reach deep into a broken heart to offer hope. Sometimes a story will point a person in the right direction or redirect their thinking.

Writers and speakers need encouragement as well. They need to hear that they are on the right path and that their words matter. My “Silver Box” story ends with a quote attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Don’t die with the music still in you.” We can change it slightly, and encourage you, “Don’t die with the story still in you.” Our stories can shape the future if we have the courage to share them.

Florence Littauer is the bestselling author of Silver Boxes, The Gift of Encouragement and over 30 other books. An internationally recognized speaker, she is the founder of the CLASSEMINARS and resides in Henderson, NV.

Gerry Wakeland is the President of CLASSEMINARS, Inc., a ministry that trains Christian communicators. She loves encouraging men and women to share the message God has given them. The mother of two grown daughters and grandmother of three active boys, Gerry lives in Albuquerque, NM.
Visit the CLASS website to learn more information about the 2012 Christian Writers Conference.
Come meet Gerry and the rest of the CLASS faculty there!

Guest Post: Kathy Carlton Willis

March is International Ideas Month


Idea Starters
By Kathy Carlton Willis

Have you ever wondered where ideas originate? I love cooking up ideas, so it’s a natural fit for me to celebrate International Ideas Month in March.

I recently joined Pinterest—a social networking site for members to share virtual bulletin boards. You can pin images and ideas on your board to share a variety of interests. How brilliant! And it all started with an idea to save, share, and swap more ideas.

Have you ever asked God to give you an idea? As a writer, I designate time for brainstorming. During some of these think tanks, my thoughts surge so fast and furious, I call them brain tsunamis. Other times an idea hits when we least expect it—and we have to be ready to jot it down. I’ve had ideas strike at red lights, the bank drive-thru, waiting rooms, and during church. I’ve learned to capture the gist of the idea in my idea notebook because just as quickly as ideas appear in my mind, they can disappear. I hate it when that happens!

The best evidence of ideas is when I’m speaking to a group and I see faces light up. I can be fairly certain they’ve just experienced an “aha moment.” See why I celebrate ideas?

We can miss two important steps with ideas though. First, we have to make sure it’s a God idea if we want to be operating in His purpose and for His glory. How can you be certain it’s a God idea, not merely a good idea? I ask Him to show me a green light in the form of peace if my brainstorm is from Him and give me a red light in the form of doubt if it doesn’t fit with His direction for my life.

The final step to ideas that often gets overlooked is fulfillment. Some people have fun conceiving ideas, but have a harder time working the idea through—taking action steps to bring to completion what started as a brilliant concept. Ideas are only wishes until we act on them and see them accomplished. Can you think of those uncompleted projects that seem to hang out forever on your To Do List?

Ask God to lead the way. May He:
Inspire the idea.
Endorse it so you know it’s from Him.
Give you the resources to complete the idea.
Give you the discipline to stick to it when you’re tempted to quit.

Then praise God when you experience the reward of checking off the idea from your list and you can say, “It is finished!

Kathy Carlton Willis serves as publicist, author and coach at KCW Communications. She shines, whether she's shining the light on her clients, or reflecting God's light during her speaking engagements. See: www.kathycarltonwillis.com
Visit the CLASS website to learn more information about the 2012 Christian Writers Conference.
Come meet Kathy and the rest of the CLASS faculty there!

On My Way

While I'm away in Arizona, I'll do my best to keep in touch, but I have a feeling my family duties will come first. I'm going to try posting content by other authors to fill in the gaps: Kathy Carlton Willis, a publicist, and Florence Littauer, seasoned author, will each post in my absence. For the non-religious among you, here's a warning that both posts are from a Christian perspective.
I hope to be back at my post by next Friday.
Thanks for reading my blog!

Your Passion vs. Your Best Chance to Publish

Many successful authors preach passion. That is, they urge writers to follow their bliss, write the stuff their hearts say is their passion. But that coming-of-age novel or literary book you're on fire about may have to wait.
Writing Tip for Today: At least as many literary agents advise writers to "write something that sells," in order to establish themselves as worthy. Genre novels such as romance or mystery, are always in demand, they assert. After you've successfully broken in as a published author with a track record, some say, a writer might be able to convince the publisher to take a risk on yet another coming-of-age novel. I struggle with this two-edged sword too. Some of my worries and questions:

• Audience. If I write a light romance, how easy or hard will it be for me to write to another audience? Will my romance readers be disappointed if there isn't enough romance? And will my more mainstream readers resent my pandering to the genre?
• Branding. If I'm supposed to create a brand, what exactly is it? Is the writer better off to keep struggling and perhaps failing in their "passion" area, or is it better (if one assumes that one is willing do do almost anything to write and be published) to be grateful for the romance market's insatiable appetite?
• Self-pub? Even in self-publishing, one important piece of advice is to KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE. If I write sweet inspirational romances and also publish literary (and much more complex) short stories, they'll both come up on an Amazon search. Which writer is the real me? And will readers be turned off by my efforts?

What do you think about all this? I'd love to hear your comments.

Writer, Interrupted

Many writers who have started a blog worry about the posting schedule--as in day in day out, you gotta write something new. If you hope to keep or grow your audience, regular posting is paramount--even when you've been sick, had a death in the family or just plain can't think of a single thing to post. But sometimes you can't avoid a few hiccups.
Writing Tip for Today: If you must be away from your normal posting routine, try to do as much damage-control as you can:

• Advance Posts. If you know in advance you'll be traveling, you can write posts in advance and schedule them to automatically publish on your normal posting day. However, that doesn't always work. When my aunt died unexpectedly this past week, it caught me off-guard. There are so many things to do before I go to Arizona for her funeral, I know I won't get those advance posts written.
• Guest Posts. Another idea might be to post content by a guest blogger, or some other information you pull out of the file. The point is, your readers will understand if you have a good reason for ignoring them--to a point.
• No Post--with a Reason. At least have the courtesy to offer an explanation to those faithful readers. I'm going to be gone for about a week, and I'll do my best to post when I can.

Introducing Raquel Byrnes

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRuby DawnWhite Rose Publishing (January 27, 2012)byRaquel Byrnes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Raquel married her college sweetheart seventeen years ago and you can still find them spending time together chatting over a cup of coffee like when they were first dating.

Her husband is her biggest fan and most ardent supporter. He encourages her to take time for writing as often as he can. He regularly gives her gift cards to her favorite coffee house so that she can go there to write and relax.

He has been known to whip up his famous chicken quesadillas complete with guacamole and brownies for dessert.

Raquel has written books for more than a decade. She loves to do research and has taken private detective courses, gun classes, and underground tours to get every detail right for her novels. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-of-your-seat pace. Stories filled with faith, love, and adventure.

In 2009 she signed with agent, Terry Burns, at Hartline Literary. Terry worked to get her Shades of Hope series sold and in 2010, White Rose Publishing purchased the three-book series.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A painful past. A love returns A desperate plan.
Former street kid, Ruby now reaches out to runaways through her medical clinic in the worst part of the city, but her escalating battle with a gang leader puts that in jeopardy.

Cavalier, a risk-taker, charming… Ruby’s first love is now on the right side of the law and the center of a dangerous DEA sting involving her clinic. Tom’s disappearance ten years ago broke her heart and rattled her faith. As their romance relights, memories of what it costs to love him flood her with fear.

Ruby’s battle with the gang ignites a firestorm of danger, and a pattern of lies from within her own camp emerges. With Tom’s life in the balance and her world cast in shadows, can Ruby trust God as she once did…or has she strayed too far, for too long to ever return?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Ruby Dawn, go HERE.