The Writers Alley

What to do when you find your book on Amazon... (a 12-step program)

2012-03-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

I was perusing my e-mails one day a few weeks ago, when a new message came into my inbox.

"Krista... Have you seen this?"

Then a link.

To Amazon.

TO MY BOOK!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

That was my response after I clicked on said link and it went to amazon.com to the page that had my debut novel listed with price and everything! HOLY CANOLY!

So... for all you aspiring writers out there... WHEN you get your contract... and WHEN you find your book on Amazon... this is what you do!

Scream.
Pinch Yourself.
Scream Again.
Call everyone on your speed dial of your phone and tell them to go to amazon and enter your name and a keyword for your book so they can see something super cool.
Scream again.
Go look at all the other "sites" and find your book there too! If you are CBA... Christianbook.com. For everyone, BN.com... booksamillion.com... You can also check to see if your publisher has updated their website to include your book info as well!
Scream, yet again. (might want to buy your family ear plugs while you are on amazon... overnight shipping... better yet run to Target before #8...)
E-mail every e-mail loop you have announcing this fun news. In all caps. Bold. Italics. Size 50 font. Color Red.
Blog about it and beg everyone you know to pre-order your book so you can get an amazon ranking (FYI: I did not know this, but once you have pre-orders... you'll get a "ranking" in Amazon on your books page! Currently as I type, mine is around 30k. However... I'm typing this a week early, so it's probably currently like 2,438,234 or something to that affect. I realize the initial hype that I created by my #6 will wear off pretty quickly....)
Scream again.
Go to www.authorcentral.com and set up your author page. You will be able to link your author page to your book, enter your bio, add your profile picture (you do have a profile picture at this point, right?!?), and even link your twitter feed and potentially your blog feed as well. Later, this will be a great holding place that people can go to and view ALL your millions of books you have in print... in one place! Once your book is released, you'll be able to view (limited) sales numbers here as well!
Check your Amazon ranking every 5 minutes for the first 48 hours. Then give yourself a once a week limit otherwise you MIGHT go completely insane. Plus, you need to get writing that next book!!!!

And of course, this post wouldn't be complete without including...

A link to my book on Amazon.... CLICK HERE
A link to my book on Christianbooks.... CLICK HERE
A link to my book on Booksamillion.... CLICK HERE

Link to my blog where I announced my book cover/back cover copy...

What? You think I'm excited??? Really???? You could TELL THAT BY THIS POST????????

Discussion: What was your first reaction or what do you think your first reaction will be when on that glorious day you see your name and book title on Amazon??

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and a contemporary romance author. She recognizes that life can be frustrating and just plain not fun sometimes, but believes that laughter and smiles can make the not-so-fun a little better! She blogs about the amazing things God has been doing and her journey as a busy momma of 4 and caregiver to a daughter with a rare congenital heart defect at http://reflectionsbykrista.blogspot.com. She is represented by the fab agent, Rachelle Gardner, and her debut novel, Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, releases in September 2012.

Why I Entered the Frasier and Why I'm Entering Again

2012-03-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

With 2011 MBT Frasier winner
(and my crit partner!!) Andrea Nell

It wasn't because I wanted to final or had any ideas of winning when I entered the 2011 My Book Therapy (MBT) Frasier contest. (You can read my reasons for entering last year in this post I wrote a year ago)

It was with scoff that I didn't get off the exercise bike when I heard the phone ring on the fateful day when I knew the finalists were being called--that won't be for me. And it was with overwhelming amazement when I finally finished my work-out and called Susan May Warren back...to find out I had finalled in the Frasier.

I can still hear that message on the machine. W.O.W.

But that isn't what my post is about (think memory alert flash). Because, do I plan to enter the Frasier again this year? YES!

Do I expect or plan to final only because I did last year? NO!

Oh goodness, no. But that deserves a little bit more explaining.

What prompted me to enter the Frasier?
Two things:

Susan May Warren.

And the judges results.

Susie is an incredible coach and teacher and when she said she was debuting a new contest, I knew this was something I could learn from and that leads to my second reason: the judges. Goodness, did I ever learn! From that first year and again last year. Constructive comments and I so appreciate the judges taking the kind of time they do to leave comments and encouragement, but also point you in the direction you need to steer clear of and what you're doing right.

How did the judges' feedback strengthen my writing?

In both years that I entered the contest, I got fantastic feedback. Both in praise and criticism, done in such a way that was an incredible learning experience. Because you send in a smaller chunk of story (1500 words, about 7 pages or so) the judges get less to see (so make it really good!!) but it also gives them a bit more time to give constructive comments. Now with every contest, it's going to be subjective, but what I learned is the judges really do have a spirit to help you learn and grow. Fantastic!

What was my contest takeaway--and how did it affect my overall writing dream?

I didn't need to win to feel successful. Wow, just a final--and I'm still floating a bit. It was a validation I was doing what I needed to do. My writing connected with someone and my hard work to make it better has been paying off.

Not everyone who enters will final, but you should still look at this as a huge step forward. Overcoming a bit of unease (okay, flat-out panic!) over submitting to a contest, putting your work out there to be judged in a more critical manner. It's a great exercise for you as a writer and author to see what you can do to improve. Because, let's face it--we all can!

Before I close the post, I wanted to share with you a couple comments from one of my Frasier judges and just what and how they will grade your entry. (this is a second round judge's comments to me)

Categories:

Susan May Warren and I at the
MBT Pizza Party

Dialogue: (30 points)

Dialogueshould move the story forward, should be tight and interesting. They should use tags sparingly with aconcentration on meaningful action (meaning, the characters are doing somethingas they are talking rather than just making facial or body movements). Also, the correct use of internal dialogue is third person,(if the story is in third person, if it is in first person, then it should stayin first person), no italics unless it follows the “other voice inside yourhead” rule, and no use of he thought, wondered, pondered, etc.

__4___Wasthe dialogue purposeful in moving the scene along?

__5___Didthe author use meaningful action?

__5___Didthe author use body language?

__5___Didthe author correctly use internal dialogue?

__5___Did the Dialogue capture you?

Comments:

Therewas soooo much to love in this scene. Not a ton of dialogue, but it was packedwith meaningful action. The internal action had spark and spunk. Loved it!

Emotional Layering: (60 points) We touchedon Showing versus Telling in the first round, but in this round we are going tobe more picky. We want to see realattempts at Emotional Layering. The point of Emotional layering in a scene isto isolate the main emotion of the pov character in the scene and show thatemotion without naming it. The readershould feel in the skin of the character through the eyes of the character –revealed through the way they experience their world. Also, the use of symbolic language (simile,metaphor, etc) deepens our understanding of the emotion. If you have questions or would like areference to this, see appendix 1. Thereare two parts to this question – mechanics (objective) and the mood(subjective).

PartOne: Mechanics (30 points)

___5__Hasthe author shown us the story in active voice?

___5__Hasthe author employed the use of the 5 senses?

___5__Havethey used use specific words to create a mood?

___4__Havethey employed the use of other characters to mirror or accentuate the emotion?

___5__Did the author refrain from telling (ratherthan showing us) us the main emotion of the scene?

Comments:

Wonderfuljob with the five senses (though, did she taste anything? I might’ve missed it)and specific nouns and showing verbs.I’m so impressed. I actually printed out a hard copy to read and I wrote thesame note over and over throughout: “love it!”

PartTwo: Mood (30 points)

___5__Didthe author show us the main emotion of the scene through thoughts?

___4__Didthe author show us the main emotion of the scene through dialogue?

___5__Didthe author show us the main emotion of the scene through meaningful action?

___4__Didthe author use a symbol that depicts the emotion of the character?

___5__Did you sense the emotion of the scene?

Comments:

Ididn’t catch on to symbolism too much here…so you could probably do a little morewith that. Otherwise, I just loved it. I could hear her voice and feel heremotion along with her!

Voice:(30 points)

Wejudged the mechanics of Voice in the first round, so this round is about howdoes the story capture you? Are youwooed by their voice? Please take amoment to find two sentences that you particularly enjoyed and copy/paste themhere:

Soooomany lines to savor in this! Here are a few of my faves…

Loved the opening lines: Agirl can only take so much truth.

Whichis probably why I found myself in a two-bit-cow-town restroom, at the exactmoment the walls of my life crumbled.

Waitingfor the pregnancy test to confirm what I already knew.

Istared at the harshness of what I had done in the face every morning and againevery night when I watched my trusting husband sleep.

Lovedhearing her voice in these lines: It had been solong since I had known Grandma’s warm embrace. I still had an eternity to wait.And nothing said God would let me through the pearly gates to see her once Igot there.

Whoeversaid a lady doesn’t sweat never lived under the fire of past mistakes.

Then,on a scale of 1-5: __5___Did the author “woo you with theirwords?” (Your answer will be multipliedby 6 to equal 30 points.)

Comments:

Trulysuperb writing, in my opinion! I could totally hear her voice and feel withher. I would definitely read more…and hope I get to someday! J

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The 2012 Frasier Contest, My Book Therapy’s storycraftingcontest for unpublished novelists, is open now through March 31. The winnerwill be announced at the annual MBT Pizza Party during the 2012 ACFW Conferencein Dallas – and will receive a free MBT retreat (a $500 value!). Final roundentries will be judged by award-winning author Susan May Warren, Tyndale Houseacquisitions editor Stephanie Broene, and Karen Ball, literary agent with theSteve Laube Agency. All guidelines and registration details are available here.

Feel free to ask me your MBT Frasier contest questions!

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Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in rural Eastern Oregon in a town more densely populated with cows than people.

How to Express Emotions in our Writing

2012-02-29T02:00:00.266-08:00

Back in the days when families gathered around the radio, great stories were told without visual assistance. Listeners had to see tears flow, the bellies jiggle with laughter, the blood fill an angry face through voice inflections, organs, and sound effects.

Expressing emotion over the radio teleported the listener into westerns where the Lone Ranger and Tonto saved the world, into mysteries where "Only the Shadow Knows," and into other exciting dramas and adventures.

Any listener could picture the characters responses in their mind with clarity as a result of quality audio communication (for the day). Oddly enough, most listener's pictures differed.

Radio stories have an advantage over visual media in that it allows the listener to interpret an emotions based on their own prior knowledge. I must confess, I pictured Whit's End and Whit completely different from the Odyssey Videos! I liked my image...then again, my daughter had yet another image. (Odyssey is a Christian children's radio series by Focus on the Family). Who was wrong? No one.

How can we create scenes that project a clarity to each reader,

enabling him/her to paint vivid, independent pictures

yet each fully accurate?

A few weeks ago, I attended a My Book Therapy Monday bleacher chat class taught by Beth Vogt. her topic: Emotional Layers. During the session, Beth recommended we keep an "Emotional Journal" to add color and life to our writing.

The task: Record a time when we experienced a given emotion.
The purpose: To capture the essence of the emotion for use in our writing.

One week later I attended a funeral for a beloved family member. I wrote in my Emotional Journal:

The experience so tore at my being, I could not speak. Tears poured in a deluge and a torrential storm ripped through my veins. Every hug from a family member or friend only brought more tears. Sorrow added an unbearable weight to my heart already void of consolation. Not one word came forward to form a sentence in my mind. As for comfort? Not a flicker. I couldn't stand. I couldn't sit. I couldn't sleep or eat. I could only cry...because I didn't know whether this beloved person went to Heaven or not.

When at last I could record sorrow in my Emotional Journal, I realized the task was greater than I first imagined.

I recalled the family member's husband, the children, grandchildren and friends. People of different ages, genders, relationships, each having their own response.

I expanded the assignment filling pages with responses from the myriad of ages, genders, and relations. Here is one I included:

The third grade grandson playfully laughed at Grandma's home before the funeral. He sat with a watchful eye during the service. But when he stood with the older grandsons as a pallbearer he wept...uncontrollably. His light skin faded to a paler hue. With red swollen eyes, he held his grandfather's hand and walked with him to the reception hall and there they sat silently looking down at the table. Not a word, yet so many. A few moments later, he looked up at his grandfather then ran off to play.

The new task I gave myself for my Emotional Journal was not not only to write down my response to an emotion, but also the responses I observe in others; after all, my characters will differ in age, gender, race, creed, relationship, and etc.

I also chose to include my own varied responses from different ages, settings, and relationship for the emotion. My description storehouse for emotions has multiplied exponentially.

Now it's your turn. Briefly relate the experience: "new." It can be from any time in your life, any place. Let's see how "new" can affect others differently.
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photo date: 1946 Photographer: Ian Fitzpatrick abc.net.au

This blog post is by Mary Vee

Mary lives in Montana with her husband and loves to hear from her three college kids. She writes Christian young adult fiction (pirate tales, missionary and Bible adventure stories).

She thinks of writing as:
Stepping into Someone Else's World.

To learn more about Mary, visit her blog http://www.mimaryvee.blogspot.com/

A New Way to Market Yourself

2012-02-28T04:21:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to my nephew, David Crandall, one of the most creative and innovative people I know. David is the author behind Heroic Destiny and has a passion for helping people intentionally pursue their best life possible.

David was featured in ProBlogger's list of Top 40 Bloggers to Watch in 2011 and has been making appearances around the internet since starting Heroic Destiny.

What I have been excited about is David's creation of slideshows that have the potential to capture the interest of people all over the internet.

What do slideshows offer that other marketing does not?

Slideshows are creative, offering visual stimulation to keep people reading about YOU and what you have to offer.
Slideshows use few words on each page, but each word is chosen for the most impact.
Slideshows can be uploaded onto Slideshare.net, where a broad new audience awaits.
Slideshows are easy (though a little time consuming).

How can writers use slideshows to market themselves?

If you have a book published, you can easily create a back cover copy slideshow to promote your book.
If you are a published author, you can create a slideshow to promote ALL your books. Kind of like a library of your works.
If you aren't a published author, you can create a slideshow to tell about yourself and your "writing credentials".
If you aren't a published author, you can create a slideshow to tell about the manuscripts you have to offer.
If you aren't a published author, you can create a slideshow as a "one sheet" to pitch your manuscript and give your bio.

Here is an example of how my nephew, David, promoted himself:

View more presentations from David Crandall

He has even created a slideshow that has been featured on Michael Hyatt's blog. This Impossible Slideshow has garnered over 102,000 views on Slideshare, where these slideshows are hosted.

View more presentations from David Crandall

Now, to show you that anyone can do this, I created a short slideshow myself. If I can do it, then anyone can do it. Seriously. I didn't do one to promote myself (though I should have), but I made one using some of my favorite writer quotes.

View more PowerPoint from Sherrinda

What do you think about this form of marketing? Is it something you might be interested in?

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This post is brought to you by

Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

What to Expect After You Submit to the Genesis ;-)

2012-02-27T02:00:00.002-08:00

Tis the season for the Genesis. In fact, we’re down to the last few days of possible entries.

Have you entered?

Coming from a previous entrant, I thought I might share a little bit of ‘what happens next’.

Are you ready?

1. You try your very best to forget about when the semi-finals will be announced. In fact, you may go to great lengths to erase the finals announcement (May 28th in case you’re trying to forget it ;-) from your memory.

2. While you try very hard to forget May 28th – you wait. Waiting might include many activities. Your regular routine will most likely continue, with only a few hundred reminders per day that May 28th is getting closer. As you wait, some suggestions distractions might be:

         a. Watching movies, especially those similar to your novel

         b. Eat chocolate

          c. Walk, fast and furiously, for…er…28 minutes?

          d. Eat more chocolate

         e. Email other entrants within your close circle and gripe about how hard waiting is.

         f. Find a new hobby - Paper mache, Origami, and plate spinning are a few.

3. Strange side effects may begin to form. Things such as excessive nail biting, a preoccupation with calendars- particularly those months of April & May, a sudden compulsion to reread the book of Genesis....

4. Sometime in April (around April 9th – if you want to make sure not to check your calendars), semi-finalists will be notified. I hadn’t forgotten this date quite well enough and as soon as a phone number popped up on my cell with a weird area code last year I grabbed it.

Remember, being a semi-finalist is a big deal. It means your work landed in the top 20% of entrants. That alone is winning information.

5. Six weeks later, finalists are announced. This actually came as a surprise call to me. My fellow Alley Cats had to remind me of the day. (Life gets busy, okay)

(side note: Entering this contest is an example of a winner too. Just entering - because that means you've made it beyond the writing-infancy stage)

Recommendations to cope with the wait:

1. Find other authors who will commiserate with you :-) Actually, the Alley Cats are the best encouragers EVER! Several of them entered this year, so it will be a DELIGHT to cheer them on.

2. Eat chocolate to dull the despair of waiting.

3. Keep busy. There’s nothing worse than waiting around for something. Time goes by faster when you keep yourself busy :-)

4. Keep writing. Finish the manuscript you entered, or move on to something new. If you final, then you’ll have even more stories to pitch to agents and editors at conference.

5. Pray for patie…er…God’s will. The very thougth of praying for patience means you get suffering. Suffering + Genesis finals does not sound good, does it? :-) In all seriousness, don’t forget God’s loving hands are even in the middle of writing contests. He’s here – and He has a plan. One that includes the stories we write, but (more importantly) the one HE is writing in Us.

What are you doing to pass the time while you wait for…that date that will not be mentioned?

Any tips you can share?

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Pepper Basham is a Blue Ridge Mountains’ native, mom of five, pastor’s wife, and university instructor. She writes in various fictional genres but spices them all with grace and humor. She is a 2011 Genesis double-finalist and can be found causing mischeif at The Writers Alley, on her personal blog- www.pepperbasham.wordpress.com, or in her imaginary world. Company always welcome.

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

2012-02-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

Last week for Genesis entries.
Are you ready?
How's your hook?
Don't let the stress of entering steal your courage! Follow the steps to the left...or you could pray. There's always an option :-)

If you missed Rachel Hauck's fabulous insights on the first words of a manuscript, make sure to check it out here.

So let's see what's coming up this week:

Monday - Pepper chats about What to Expect After you Submit to Genesis....In the Beginning was nervousness....

Tuesday - Tools, tools, tools....Sherrinda introduces us to a new (and secret) marketing tool she's discovered. Stop by to find out what it might be.

Wednesday- Is it time to express yourself? Stop by and read Mary's post about Expressing Emotions in Our Writing.

Thursday - Speaking of Contests..... Casey shares today about the Frasier Contest - why she entered it last year, and why she will enter it again.

Friday - Our up-and-coming published Alley Cat, Krista, talks about What to Do When you See your Book on Amazon (and there might even be a sneak peek at the cover of her debut novel)

Author Cathy Gohlke was a guest on Seekerville yesterday and her post was truly inspirational - even her comments made throughout the day were encouraging and filled with grace. Her newest novel, Promise Me This, is 'making waves' throughout the CBA. Check out the post here.

Writing Contest Contradictions - Prepare Yourself Ahead of Time

2012-02-24T02:41:00.001-08:00

In lieu of the Genesis contest, I wanted to share a little on the kind of feedback you might get with your returned entries.

I'm currently a BIG advocate of contests so I strongly encourage you to enter them if you have the chance (can't you tell by the graphic to the right?). But I also encourage you to stay true to yourself and I want to let you know that there might be contradictions you will have to weed through.

Just want to say ahead of time, this is only based off my experience and feedback from others. You might not experience this from contests at all, and even if you do, this isn't about telling you to disregard feedback. It's about trying to help prepare yourself for varying feedback so you can use it to your advantage.

So...here are some contradictions you might come across.

Backstory

Let me give you an example. I got feedback from eight judges on the first chapter of a recent story I wrote. The comments about backstory were all helpful but half said, "I don't need to know this yet!" (I'm paraphrasing here) and the other half said something to the effect of "This is great! Give me more!" See? Subjective. So sometimes you've got to go with your gut, and if feedback is pretty equal, stick with what you feel is right.

Humor

My first attempt at romantic comedy was...well, fun. But let me tell you, it was judged, and out of four judges, not one thought the same parts were funny. Personally, I thought they were hilarious (okay, at least mildly amusing), but humor is still subjective. If more than one person likes it, it's probably pretty funny. If only one person doesn't like it, it doesn't mean it's not funny, just that maybe that particular judge had a different sense of humor.

Deep POV

Oh, I don't even know where to begin on this. I might get myself in trouble here, but even this topic can be a bit subjective. My advice? Study up on Deep POV, write it to the best of your ability, and try to get your reader in your character's head as much as possible. And as far as taking advice on Deep POV? If you trust that person, or they're a judge you know has particular experience with this, go for it!

Pacing and Hooks

Again, you're probably going to get varying feedback on this topic. Some judges will say, "Great opening! You kept me hooked" and other judges might say, "You didn't hook me right away, maybe start further into the story and keep up the pace!" Yes, your goal is to start the story in the right place. And going with the majority here might be a good idea. But if you're getting varying feedback, again, stick with what you feel is right.

Basically the point of this post is to let you know that not EVERY single thing a judge says is the right way to do it. Rule of thumb, if more than one judge agrees on something that needs improvement, you might want to consider reworking it. If it's half and half, that's more your call and what you feel is right. If only one judge comments on it...decide what you feel is best. Sometimes what they're telling you, you can readily agree with. It makes sense. And sometimes what they're telling you is just opinion and it doesn't mean what you're doing is wrong or needs to be changed immediately.

I know many of you out there have entered contests in the past. Have you encountered specific contradictions in feedback? And for those of you entering for the first time or who haven't entered before, what kind of feedback would you expect might be hard to deal with?

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Cindy is a Colorado native, living near the mountains with her husband and three beautiful daughters. She writes contemporary Christian romance, seeking to enrich lives with her stories of faith, love, and a touch of humor.

To learn more about Cindy, visit her at her personal blog, www.cindyrwilson.blogspot.com

The Seed and The Harvest

2012-02-22T21:51:00.000-08:00

I have a Plumeria cutting sitting in my office windowsill right now. My husband and I got it on our last trip to Hawaii, but the problem is, we went in October, which means I’ve had to do the rooting process indoors. And let’s just say I don’t have a greenhouse.

I want this thing to grow so badly. I bought the special root grower powder stuff, I did research on how to plant in the right way, and I’ve kept it near the sunniest window in the house to try to maximize its exposure to the sun while keeping it protected from the elements.

And then I've stared. Literally stared. I go in there all the time and just look at it, hoping, wishing, praying some leaf bud will form, some flower, something—anything that will show the evidence of life, of roots.

It’s been four months. You’re supposed to see leaves after one to two. In other words, it wasn’t looking good for my Plumeria. Should’ve bought the already-rooted kind, I keep thinking to myself. But the thing is, I didn’t. I wanted this one, with the pretty multicolored flowers on the packaging. From our favorite place on the North Shore. Not some mass-produced Floridian Plumeria from down the street. This is my heart flower, the one I was so careful to keep safe on the flight home.

This week, the Plumeria started changing. No, it hasn’t boomed yet. No, there are no flowers or even leaves. But a couple weeks ago, I adjusted the blinds to allow more sunlight to stream through, and it must’ve done something. Because now, the brown “scars” on the tops of the cutting are breaking up, and the littlest evidence of fresh-looking sprouts is coming through.

Now, I don’t know where you are in your writing journey or what you’re hoping will flower. But I’m writing this because I want you to know—and I believe God wants you to know—there is hope. There is always, always hope.

Maybe you’re looking at the plant that is your writing life, and right now, it looks like nothing more than a dead stick. A very dry, very brown, very brittle stick, breaking from rejection.

It’s very easy to yank up that stick and throw it away. Or to shove a prying finger into the soil to check prematurely for roots. But the thing is—and this is key—doing that will disrupt the natural progression of the beautiful mystery that is life.

God has called you. He has gifted you with purpose, and He desires to see that cultivated and propagated. Sometimes when the seed is still in the soil, the process seems invisible. But don’t mistake visibility for actuality.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Maybe it’s winter in your writing life. Maybe everything seems frozen and cold. Maybe God’s even got you on a windowsill beside the sunniest window in the room. Maybe you’re tempted to rip the whole thing out of the soil and toss it in the trash.

Don’t.

You don’t see what’s happening underneath. It’s exactly what you hoped for and so much more than you dreamed. And you don't want to miss the fragrance of dreams.

Where are you hoping God will sow seed in your writing life, and where has He already? Have you seen the evidence of flowers lately? What actions can you take to protect the “dream seeds” God has planted in your life?

*Pictures used from alohaislandweddings.com and exoticplumeria.com

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Ashley Clark writes romantic comedy with southern grace. Born and raised in the South, her favorite vegetable is macaroni and cheese, and she loves sweet tea. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. She's thrilled to be represented by the fabulous Karen Solem. You can read more of Ashley's thoughts on writing, crafts, and life on her personal blog:http://ashleyclarkwrites.blogspot.com/. She's also on Facebook and Twitter (writerashley).

Four Simple Ways to Become a Healthier Writer

2012-02-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but when I'm not taking care of my body through health and fitness, my creativity suffers. And a writer's schedule isn't necessarily full of time to spend three hours at the gym every day.

As I've been studying to become a certified fitness instructor, I've realized there are ways we can achieve our health goals AND our writing goals at the same time.

Here are four simple ways:

1) Use a stability ball as your desk chair. It helps strengthen your core (abs and back) and improves your posture. And if you want to take it up a notch, you can lift off the ball every once in a while to work your legs and glutes while you type.

2) Drink while you write. (Water, that is. ;)) If you write in hour-long chunks, make it your goal to finish off a cup or two of water before the hour is up. I'm a big fan of multitasking. :)

3) Set up a laptop stand on your treadmill, like our very own Pepper. This isn't the most practical for typing. But if you need to read through an excerpt or catch up on blogs or read a craft book, this is the perfect solution.

4) Take a recorder with you on a walk and brainstorm ideas. Or better yet, if you've got a writing buddy close by, take brainstorming walks together. (Or if your brainstorming buddies are far away, call them up and pace around your house while you talk. You can burn around 200 calories if it's an hour-long chat!)

Do you have any ideas to add to my list? How much time do you devote to your health each week? What would you do with the extra time you could save by multitasking on these goals?

*Exercise ball photo by John Kasawa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Sarah Forgrave is a stay-at-home writer-mom who feels blessed to pursue her calling and passion. She writes contemporary romance for the inspirational market and is a contributor to the webzine Ungrind.

To learn more about Sarah, visit her personal blog at:
http://www.sarahforgrave.com/blog

On Finding the "Keeper"

2012-02-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

Idea hockey...do you ever play this game?

Check out that chicken scribble in your notebook listing ideas? Shoot them around for a while, but you can never seem to get them to the other end of the field not to mention the goal?

Go to square one. Start plotting again. Get stuck midfield, you're about ready to "pass" on this idea.

I am a computer software plotter. I invested in Dramatica Pro and it was invaluable in plotting as a first-time novel writer.

And this time around I used Dramatica Pro to toss around my ideas and was able to "see" as a result that one of my "great" ideas just wasn't plausible from start to finish.

Whatever method you use to plot, I recommend spending the extra time and perhaps plotting all those ideas you have floating around in there. I have one plotted novel for later, one for now, and one completely implausible story.

So what if you're stuck on the first stage?

Try B-R-A-I-N-S-T-O-R-M-I-N-G as per DiAnn Mills great guidelines. I LOVE this idea about studying the parables of Jesus. Do your stories give meaning and purpose for people's lives? Do they show them tackling a challenging situation?

Brainstorm with a friend. How credible are your ideas? An honest friend will tell you where your plot falls flat and may help you to get out of that place. Rachel Hauck has some great tips for how to get the most out of a brainstorming session.

Picture surfing. When I'm stuck it always helps me to look for the "right" photos to evoke my setting. I also love finding pictures of movie characters that "fit" my character physically (so helpful in writing those descriptions). News stories related to the period of history or topic of my story can have pictures that bring me into the atmosphere of my story.

Become a news junkie. Reading news stories and asking "what if" questions make up the majority of the ideas in my notebook.

Research, research, research. As I start researching new ideas crop up, new characters begin populating my novel, and plot points suddenly begin to converge.

How do you find your ideas? And how do you decide which ones are "keepers"?

Meet Debut Author, Regina Jennings

2012-02-20T02:47:00.000-08:00

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and homeschools their four children.

I first met Regina in the ACFW Large Crit Group. Not only was I impressed with her magnificent storytelling, I was excited to read a novel set in my ol' stomping grounds...South Texas. It was no surprise to me that two years later, when I met Regina in person at ACFW conference, there were Bethany House posters featuring her debut novel displayed just beside us. Her story, Sixty Acres and A Bride, made its way to retailer bookshelves last month, and once you pick it up, you'll find it difficult to put down! Before we hear from Regina, here's a little blurb for those of you who haven't read it yet:

She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future.

Regina, tell us a little bit about the beginning stages of your story. Where did you get your inspiration for Sixty Acres and a Bride?

I was writing a Ruth and Boaz skit for a church production and had big plans for it—secondary characters, subplots, and a love story that didn’t get ironed out until they’d been married for a spell. Right as the dialogue started to jell I learned that the skit could only be fifteen minutes long. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Boaz was being played by a father of three and Ruth by our Youth Minister’s fiancée. No chemistry allowed.

The production was awesome—the first cowboy Ruth and Boaz skit that anyone had ever seen—but I wasn’t ready to say good-bye to the characters. By then Ruth and Boaz had been replaced by Rosa and Weston and they were begging for their story to be told.

That is awesome! I love theatre! Rosa and Wes definitely come to life as if we were watching a play. Besides the stage, what other ways you apply the saying, "Write what you know"?

My favorite historical setting is Early Modern Europe complete with the explorers, the Reformation, and the Tudors. I’d love to spin a tale of courtly intrigue, but just writing a book was going to be hard enough. I didn’t need the added challenge of putting on fancy, aristocratic airs. Instead I chose a setting and a voice that was very familiar to me. Both my family and my husband’s family have strong agricultural roots and the Texas vernacular isn’t too far from Oklahoma-speak. I’m much more at home with 1880 Texas ranchers than I would be with Elizabethan courtiers. Even Rosa wasn’t too much of a stretch thanks to our yearly mission trips to Mexico.

After reading the book, I can definitely say you have grasped the Texas vernacular to a "T"! ;) With the wonderful detailed plot and the purpose-driven writing in Sixty Acres and A Bride, I'd love to know if you are you a panster or plotter.

I’m somewhere in between, possibly a panster in denial. I like to have the major turning points plotted out before I get very far into the story (my editor appreciates that, too), but as I start writing I revise—sometimes turning the plot in a totally new direction. I reckon my final answer is that I always have a map showing me where I’m going, but I might switch maps mid-journey.

Sounds very familiar. My plots always end up in a different direction once I get right down to it. I have found being plugged into the writing community has helped me understand more about my panster tendencies.:)

What has been the most helpful advice or class you've taken as a writer?

Joining a critique group was life-changing. I started with my local ACFW group (OKC Christian Fiction Writers), but needed more than one session a month to be ready for conference, so I got plugged in to the online ACFW critique loop. Not only did I make some fantastic friends (including Angie!) but I learned how to apply the advice I was reading in articles and on blogs.

I agree, ACFW has a wealth of tools for writers, and some pretty fabulous members to connect with! Thank you so much, Regina!

Regina's Contact Info:

Email: reginaljennings@yahoo.com

website: www.reginajennings.com/blog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReginaLJennings

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/ReginaJenning
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and CEO of a family of six.

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

2012-02-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome, everyone.
Only two more weeks until the Genesis closes for entries. Are you polishing up those manuscripts? Ready to take the plunge?

If you want to learn more, check out ACFW's website at http://www.acfw.com/

Monday - Angie talks with debut author, Regina Jennings, about her new book Sixty Acres and a Bride

Tuesday - Before the beginning there was "Prewriting" and Julia talks about it today.

Wednesday - Our Alley Cat-Fitness Guru, Sarah, talks about being a Healthy Writer - Wellness Tips that People Can Combine with Their Writing.

Thursday - Are you ready for spring? Ashley talks about the importance of sowing seeds in our writing journey.

Friday - Cindy writes about Facing Contradictions and Truth in Judge's Feedbacks to help us get our minds focused for our next set of critiques.

Writing with Heart

2012-02-17T09:11:00.002-08:00

It's heart month!

I LOVE February!

I LOVE love!

I LOVE hearts!

My love of this month quadrupled upon the birth of my daughter, Annabelle, who was born with only half of her heart in 2010. In 2011, we spent heart month in the hospital, praying for a NEW heart. In 2012, she is doing much better, despite being currently in the hospital ER with RSV. Blah on that. (and thus the reason for my late post today...)

But through the last two years, I've learned something pretty big in my writing.

And it's about hearts too.

It's the the value of WRITING FROM THE HEART!

The heart is the seat of our emotions in our culture today. (Wasn't it the bowels in Bible days or something??? SO SO thankful we use the heart...)

So when we say, "write from the heart" it means that we are digging deep in our souls and splattering that on the pages. In order for us to evoke strong emotion in our readers, we need to pull from strong emotions as we write.

A tepid book is just not very fun to read.

That emotion will vary upon the author, upon the genre, and upon the plot.

The emotion can be fear, happiness, sadness, joy, passion, anger, anxiety, uncertainty, the list goes on and on.

A GOOD book will hit several of these emotions. YOU as an author should experience several of these while you write!

Writing, good writing, is a soul-seeking, bloody process. Even though I write funny romance, I still have to dig deep in me, in my experiences, and put my heart on the pages.

Use your life experiences, the emotions and deep feelings you've had, when you write. You don't have to "write" your experiences, but you write to evoke those emotions.

The last two years have been difficult for me, I'll admit. My family has gone through more than I'd ever wish on anyone. Congenital heart defects are awful, and they kill. (Did you know heart defects kill more children a year than all childhood cancers combined??) Seeing your child laying on a table, their heart beating in an open chest, is life-changing.

My hope is that God can use the things I felt, the things I LEARNED, to helps someone else when they read my books.

My books aren't about "heart" defects.

But they are definitely about the heart.

Discussion: What life experiences have you had that shape how you write? How do you show your emotions on the page?

Rachel Hauck with Our Pitch Winner's My Book Therapy!

2012-02-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Casey here: Earlier in January the Writer's Alley hosted a very first: the chance to have the first 1,000 words of the winner's story critiqued by Rachel Hauck, awarding winning author and My Book Therapist. Below you will find the winner's pitch and excerpt and Rachel's comments highlighted in the blue. Rachel gives some great comments that apply to all stories, not just this one and is a great learning experience. Thanks to both our winner and Rachel for giving of her time for our learning experience!

Winning pitch!:
When a confirmed bachelor inherits his sister's

four kids, he knows he can't do it all on his own.

But he can't mail order a bride - can he find one on Craigslist?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Prologue

*Andrew*

They looked like stair-step angels.Towheads. With big blue eyes. Their mother's eyes. Their father's hair.

Sitting there.

Staring at me.

What did I know about being a dad?

Nothing.

I was cool Uncle Andrew. Flew in atChristmas. Sent fun stuff on birthdays. Promised ski trips for the teen years.

I'd sworn off ever having a family of myown. ((RH: GREAT hint at the hero’s issue, story question and what this book is goingto be about. Love the quick opening!))

But now I'd inherited one. ((RH: Good. This isthe problem. He doesn’t want a family and now he’s inherited one. We’reintrigued because we want to know how it happened and what he’s going to doabout it?))

Guests around me murmured words I didn'thear, much less understand. ((RH:ßSeems weird to me he hears murmured words but then you write “I didn’t hear.”He heard something, Reword this??)) I could only stare at the lives that nowdepended on me.

"Unca An'rew?" ((RH: This is a ruleof mine and I think it’s a good one. If you’re writing young kids, use sentencestructure to show broken speech, young speech or dialect. Misspelling words isawkward and often jerks the reader a bit.))

My Daisy Girl. A flower in the rain.That's what she reminded me of. "Yes, Emma?"

"Where're we gonna go?" Therewas a tell-tale quiver of her bottom lip. She was trying to be strong andbrave. ((RH: Can you weave in here the children’s ages?)) I wasn't sure who had toldthem they needed to be, but someone had. All any of them wanted to do was cry.I'd lost my parents at twenty-five and it was all I'd wanted to do. How muchmore so for a four-year-old? ((RH: ßput in earlier.))

"With me, Daisy Girl."

"But you don't have room."Tyler looked more sullen. At six, he understood better than the others.

"I'll find room. A new place. Ihave to move for work anyway so we'll get a place big enough for all five ofus."

I hadn't thought this through. I wasmoving from Phoenix to Springfield, Missouri in a matter of weeks. The kidsbelonged in Charlotte, North Carolina. Where Ally and I had grown up. Theirpaternal grandparents had volunteered to take them until I could figure thingsout, but there was no one else and I'd promised Ally. They couldn’t do itfull-time. I was the only relative. No other aunts or uncles. No cousins. Nobest friends willing to step up.

((RH: I like this set up. Can you slow down abit and give a bit more emotion and detail. Or have someone come up to ourhero, Andrew, perhaps the in-laws and have some of this in dialog.

Both the father and mother of thechildren died? How did Andrew promise Ally he’d take the children? We’regetting great information here but slow down, give a bit more detail about thedeath. It’s not back story IF it relates to the current scene. And it does.))

Just me.

Perpetually single Uncle Andrew. ((RH: Is thishis choice? Hint of a fear or regret here?))

And a judge had even okayed it.((RH: <--Okay him being perpetually single? :-) )) Thought it was a good idea even. ((RH: Rearrange the sentence to be in a more logical order.))

"We hafta move?" Tears filledEmma's eyes.

I nodded. ((RH: ßInstead of “I nodded,” show more action. “I scooped her up in my arms. I’llkeep you safe baby Emma. I’ll do what I have to do. I will. No backing out onthis one.” Something like that “shows” the scene better. Nodding, smiling,laughing, etc are good and we need those but use them sparingly. In this scenewe need more of Andrew’s movements. Also, if you add a few lines like Isuggested, the reader will see he’s trying to overcome a fear, a bad habit, animmaturity that we know will cause him troubles later. :-) )) "I'm sorry, sweetie, but yes. But it'llbe okay. We'll get a big house with a yard and friends nearby, okay?" Iprayed I could deliver on that promise. I was getting a raise and everythingwas cheaper in that part of the country. Surely, I could swing a decent house. ((RH: ß This is good. But maybe something youcould add to the dialog part with the in-laws over where they were going tolive. This is “surface” detail that the story needs. BUT not worth internalthought. That can be said “Out loud.” But internal thought, about his fears,his resolve, his doubts, add a deeper layer of emotion and can be told ininternal thought. People are more likely to speak out surface details whileholding onto personal thoughts.))

"MeeMee and PaPaw are going to stayhere for a few weeks. I can't stay for Thanksgiving, but I'll call you everynight and then we'll move together. We'll be together by Christmas. Okay?"

((RH: I’m not sure where we are? Are we inNorth Carolina? Time of day? Time of year? We need a bit more story world.))

Emma nodded then broke ranks. She ran tome, flung her little arms around my neck and the body-wracking sobs began. ((RH: ßGood!)) I folded her into my embrace, tears leaking down my own cheeks.Three-year-old Colby scrambled onto the couch next to me. ((RH: ß Are there three children? I wasthinking only two?)) I expanded my reach to include my nephew. Throughtear-filled eyes, I could see Tyler sitting on the other couch. And Kalie wasbarely a year. She had no idea what was going on.

"I jus' wan' my mama and daddyback." Emma's whisper broke my heart.

"I know, punkin. I know."

((RH: Lovethis premise. Love this opening. We have immediate empathy for the hero as wellas the children. ))

Work on adding story world and the five senses. What timeof day? What does the breeze smell like? What sounds? Where are they? Time ofyear?

You did a good job with pacing, but I think you couldslow down a bit and add some layers, weave in some internal emotion.

We have a good glimpse of his obstacles and insecurities,but can you beef those up? Why hasn’t he settled down? What do the childrenmean to his life, his job? They provide a huge obstacle to what he wants.

As you develop the opening pages, we need to get aglimpse at what this story is going to be about and what Andrew’s journey willentail. So: What does he want?

I can see his dilemmas. His struggle. But I’m not surewhat he wants.

Greatest fear needs to conflict with his secret desire.

For example: If his greatest fear is failure on everylevel – relationships, work, with God, but his secret desire is to be at peace,to love, to be secure enough to fail, then what problems do inheriting hissister’s children cause? How do they highlight his fear but tap on his desire.

If he’s all about himself and his work, then inheritingchildren would be a big source of emotional turmoil. Yet, we get a glimpse ofhis love for them.

Rachel Hauck

You have all the pieces in place. Love it! Nice writingtoo! Now, rewrite and ramp up the tension, the obstacles and the hint of thejourney.

Good job!!! Thank you for letting My Book Therapy have ashot at your piece. J

Rachel

Thank you, Rachel! It was a privilege to have you here on the Alley and we are so glad we can learn from your expertise!

YA Fiction Tips for All Genres

2012-02-15T02:00:00.000-08:00

There are times when the young adult sections of the bookstore or library are ever so much more enticing.

I wasn't sure what component held me bound to YA fiction until I interviewed a college freshman.

She showed me a stack of regular fiction books waiting to be devoured then confessed to spending the last of her treasured dollars last week on a YA fiction book. She finished the YA book first

Seizing an interview moment I asked these questions:

Why do you like reading young adult fiction books?

**Quick Reads

I can pick up a young adult book and read through it in a couple of hours. I probably can finish the book late in the same night. While I enjoy longer regular fiction stories, I don't always have the time to finish the book or read what happens next the next day, or possibly the week.

What makes a young adult book different from a regular fiction book?

**Fast Paced

The action is fast throughout the book. Thrills and spills like a roller coaster from the first page to the last. I can't help but flip the next page until I reach the end of the book.

Regular fiction books have fast paced portions, which I like, too.

**Less Description

"Young adult fiction spend little time on description. I don't really care what the etchings on a sword looks like, get to the battle. Keep moving. Yes I want to know the setting, but within reason. Don't bore me with details."

**Vocabulary

"The authors usually write like we speak, but every once in a while a word is thrown in that I don't know. I like that. I can figure out what the word means by the context.

"In the regular fiction books these types of higher vocabulary words are a norm. Sometimes I want to be challenged by reading the regular fiction, but other times, I just want to chillax (chill + relax) and move through the story."

**Humor

"Young adult books are more conducive to humor. Authors will use analogies that make me laugh.

"Regular fiction tends to have more serious tone- not that serious is bad. It just depends on what mood I'm in at the time. There are funny regular fiction stories, but that's not what I'm talking about. Humor is woven into most YA books, not in regular fiction.

Well then, at what times are you in the mood for a young adult fiction read?

**Mood

When I'm tired, I want something fast to read. If I am depressed I need humor and less effort to read through a book. If I want something nostalgic I might read something YA. Just because I choose to read a YA fiction over a regular fiction doesn't make me adorakable, it simply means I want a good, humorous, fast paced book that will take no effort to enjoy.

What does adorkable mean?

"It's like a high school student who walks around wearing a Gryffindor scarf...adorkable."

How many adults will pick up a YA book for the same reasons? Lots.

I know many adults who've read Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, The Hunger Game, Anne of Green Gables, and etc.

As a young adult Christian fiction writer, I've picked up a few tips from today's interview:

YA word count is usually between 50,000 and 60,000 words. Now I know why.
Pace is quick. Breaths in action are needed but are not to be noticeable.
Minimal descriptions. Paint a vivid picture concisely.
Season with regular snippets of humor.
Seed the story with higher vocabulary

I know not all of you are YA writers. So tell me, how can you incorporate some of these components in your fiction genre?

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Image by: Freedigitalphotos.net

This blog post is by Mary Vee

Mary lives in Montana with her husband and loves to hear from her three college kids. She writes Christian young adult fiction (pirate tales, missionary and Bible adventure stories).

She thinks of writing as: Stepping into Someone Else's World.

To learn more about Mary, visit her blog http://www.mimaryvee.blogspot.com/

How To Write A Kissing Scene...Valentine Edition

2012-02-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

The Kiss...the moment when lips meet, when senses are heightened, when hearts meld. It is a magical thing, because women loved to be kissed They want to be wanted, desired, loved. When writing romance, the kiss is of the utmost importance.

So how does one go about writing a kissing scene? What things are important when laying out "the kiss"? There are several areas that you should consider when developing your kissing scene.

SETTING/MOOD: Setting is very important when it comes to a kiss, because it sets up the mood for the smooch. For instance, a kiss in a dark parking garage has a completely different feel that a kiss in front of a cozy fire. Include descriptive details to put the reader into the scene so that they can feel the ambiance.

DISTANCE/PROXIMITY: In order to kiss, your characters must come in close proximity. How do they come together in a way that builds tension and increases a readers need to turn the page? There has to be either conflict (a fall/rescue, locked in a room all alone) or heightened awareness/desire from both characters that moves them toward one another. Make is good. Make it count.

SENSES 1-5: This is a no-brainer. Use the five senses to ramp up the kiss.

Touch - Describe the feeling a character gets when their lips meet the other's. Soft, hard, yielding, demanding? Does her face feel smooth, his whiskery? Does goose bumps shimmer across her skin when he digs his fingers into her hair? What are their physical reactions?
Taste - A kiss can have a taste. I know that could be gross, given a character's love for garlic, but be creative. Have them taste of honey or minty chocolate. Your character could have just eaten a kiwi or an orange. Make it unique.
Sight - Since you are in a character's POV, describe what the other one looks like as they move in for a kiss. What gestures or facial expressions do they see? Does she lick her lips in anticipation? Does he clench his jaw or deepen a dimple? This should be the easiest sense to use, so make it good.
Smell - What do the characters smell like? Are they wearing cologne? Do they smell like they have been cooking hamburgers or have been outdoors? Don't forget to include the smells of the setting. What about the salty sea breeze at the beach or the fragrant roses of the garden? Let the setting help you out here.
Sound - While we might not want to admit it, there are sounds when we kiss. You don't want to write about the smack or slurp that might occur, but you can mention the soft moan, quick intake of breath, shaky exhale, or a deep beat of a heart. Don't forget about the sounds of the setting. Soft rain hitting the window can set the mood up nicely for a kiss.

WRAP UP/LOOSEN UP: So what happens after the kiss? Well, if this is close to the beginning of the book, you need to have some conflict come in. Let someone walk in on them. Have one be angry with the other for crossing the line and kissing them against their will (even though they participated willingly enough in the kiss!). You have got to keep the tension going so readers will want to turn that page and see if they kiss again.

There is nothing better than a great kiss with someone you love. I know, because I've been married to the same wonderful man for 27 years. He has given me a Valentine every day since Saturday. Chocolate covered strawberries, a date to see The Vow (sigh!), and a dozen red roses. Were there kisses involved? What do you think? ;)

It's Valentine's Day....have you had your kiss yet?

Is there anything you would add to make a kissing scene even better? What authors write the best kissing scenes, in your opinion? Do share!

*****************************************************************************

This post is brought to you by

Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

Writing Outside the Box with Janice Hanna Thompson (and me)

2012-02-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

I admit that I have a unique writing style. For those of you who have been following The Writers Alley for a while, you know. Not only do I like to genre-hop, and write two (or more) books at once, but I also write the story out of sequence.

Come to find out, I’m not as unique (read ‘crazy’) as I thought I was.

Last Wednesday I had the wonderful opportunity to spend about four hours with author Janice Hanna Thompson. If you don’t know, Janice is the author of the Weddings By Bella series and the Backstage Pass series. She’s published nearly eighty books, both fiction and nonfiction, throughout a wide variety of genres. Her newest fiction endeavor is a historical novel that takes place on the ill-fated Titanic.

She’s also known as a wonderful presenter and her website is evidence of her teaching skills. Check out her writing helps at www.janiceathompson.com/blog

So, how are the famous Janice Thompson and the infamous Pepper Basham similar minds? ;-)

We write in the spark of the moment.

It’s kind of like pantster with ADD. :-)

Janice has a whole presentation about it and she’s going to be featured on The Writers Alley soon to explain it, but here’s the gist:

Within the first chapter of a novel, Janice goes through and looks at hints she’s written that foreshadows scenes for the future. Then, with the spark of creativity fired up from her first chapter, she writes on the spark. She takes those bits of scenes and writes them out. They don’t have to be chronological.

She writes out the scenes and then, like a master puzzler, goes back and pieces the story together.

Now, why is this interesting?

I do the SAME thing!

It was the first time I’d discovered someone else whose brain works like mine. I know, poor Janice, right? (All of you Alley Cats will know how to pray for her now ;-)

What is good about this style of writing?

- Instead of sloshing through the dull parts (like we have fifty pound turkey’s on each foot), we get to jump from one creatively active scene to another

- Gives the writer a sense of forward motion

- Fits the strengths of a writer who has mental ADD and needs continual mental activity

What might be some negatives of this style of writing?

- Finding momentum to go back and connect everything once you’ve finished

- Tricky puzzle piecing in the end :-) (This can be a pro instead of a con if you are like me…and like puzzles)

- May not suit different types of writer-brains.

I KNOW Janice will have a lot more to share (and in a much more refined way), but what do you think?

We’ve talked about writing styles before – what is your style? Do you ever incorporate some of these techniques or does this sort of writing style make you want to crawl up in a corner and weep?

Do you think it’s genre-specific or could it spread throughout all genres?

And THANK YOU, Janice for a FABULOUS evening. Not only were you extremely fun and generous, but you let me talk like a madwoman (and taught me so much through the process).

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

2012-02-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend everyone.

And an early Happy Valentine’s Day.

It’s been a wonderful week of surprises for our Alley Cats.

One thing that’s been cool this week is that The Writers Alley made the list of Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012. Woohooo!! Check it out here:

Sherrinda finaled in the Great Expectations Contest for her historical romance novel.

Cindy finaled in the GOTCHA for her contemporary romance.

Congrats, ladies!

Next week?

Pepper starts off the week with a talk about ‘outside the writer’s box’, with different ways to create story from author, Janice Thompson’s notes.

Stop by Tuesday as Sherrinda talks about....KISSING! Whew...and I'm all ready for that one! (I wonder if the Kissing Queen, Julie Lessman, will drop by) :-)

Wednesday Mary takes us on an educational trip about writing YA

STOP BY THURSDAY! Casey hosts Rachel Hauck’s tips on hooking the reader in the first 1000 words with her critique of our contest winner’s submission

In honor of Valentine’s Day week and Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, on Friday Krista is doing a post on Matters of the Heart.

Have a great week!
And don't forget to show someone you care :-)

When It's Time to Say Goodbye to Your Manuscript

2012-02-10T02:36:00.000-08:00

You ever have that perfect pair of jeans you simply adore--or that's a perfect fit? For my two oldest daughters, it's shoes. You know those ones with the tiny heels that click-clack across the floor or leave thousands of sparkles in their wake. They wear them until they're no longer wearable, or sometimes even grow out of them, and have to say goodbye. They don't want to, sometimes there are even tears, but when the sole falls off or the shoes don't fit anymore, Mommy knows best. And what she knows is that it's time to say goodbye to those shoes.

Just like with those shoes or our favorite pair of jeans, we have to know when to say goodbye to our stories. Sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently.

We all do it. We get attached to a story we've created and have high hopes for it. It's sparkly, like those shoes, a perfect fit, like those jeans. We want to see it through to publication, through all the edits and all the way to the end, where we see it in reader's hands, getting rave reviews. But there are times when it's better to set that story aside, even if we feel it's very special.

From a lot of years of experience and hanging onto novels too long, I've come up with some good indicators that it's time to move on from your novel.

When Feedback Isn't Where It Needs to Be

Whether your feedback is from beta readers, critique partners, or even contest judges, if you're getting consistent feedback that a lot of your story needs work, take a step back. If knowledge of the craft is lacking, step back. Put your manuscript aside, do some study of the craft and some research about topics you need to improve on. Then you can either return to your story or start a new one if the old one isn't salvageable.

When It's Your First Manuscript

Before I get in trouble, let me just say this is a general suggestion. Sometimes someone will write that first manuscript and it's awesome! Agents love it, editors want it, and there's no problem. But for most writers, that first manuscript is a starting point. A tool to learn and see where your skills are, or even to see if writing is for you at all.

When You Can't Read Through the First Few Chapters Without Skimming

Once you've received feedback or are working tirelessly to edit, sometimes it's hard to see your story with a clear eye. If you find you're skimming paragraphs or chapters, you're not going to be able to edit your story how it needs to be reworked. Take a break and return to your editing later.

When the Thought of Editing Another Few Times Makes You Cringe

If you're seriously tired of editing, you've hit that point like, as I said above, it's going to be hard to edit your story how it needs to be edited. Again, take a break. A few weeks, sometimes even a few months, gets the story out of your head enough that you can return to it with fresh eyes. And in the meantime, work on something else that will help you. Study craft books, learn from agents or author blogs, even start plotting a new story so you have something else to work on once those edits are finally done.

When You're Too Close to the Manuscript

I have to put this one in here because I've done it before. I've gotten so close to the manuscript, it's hard to see that anything might be wrong with it. It's hard to realize that extensive editing, or at least some editing, might be necessary before trying to submit it. You need perspective here. And sometimes when you return to that manuscript, you realize it's not ready, and maybe it's time to step away from that story for good.

When the Market, Agents, Editors, or Your Heart is Calling For Something Else

I'm not saying you should be swayed by trends or stop a manuscript dead in the middle of writing it. But I am saying that once you finish a manuscript, find that perspective. See if it will fit in the market. See if you have passion to work and rework it. Pray about it. Also, don't be afraid to acknowledge that your book might just be a stepping stone to get you to something bigger and better, whether it be a new genre, or even a new outlook on the way to craft a book.

Have you had a hard time stepping away from your novel or novels in the past? What helped you do so, and was the separation permanent?

***photo by andygeers

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Cindy is a Colorado native, living near the mountains with her husband and three beautiful daughters. She writes contemporary Christian romance, seeking to enrich lives with her stories of faith, love, and a touch of humor.

To learn more about Cindy, visit her at her personal blog, www.cindyrwilson.blogspot.com

Making Your Readers Giggle

2012-02-08T22:27:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone! First off, I want to thank you all for the warm welcome, and I also want to thank my fellow Alley Cats for allowing me to team up with them. They truly are such a blessed, gifted group of women, and I consider it a privilege to be counted among them.

If you read my interview, you probably remember that I write southern romantic comedy, and I love my genre! So for my first blog post, I'm going to talk about something I'm still learning myself... how to make people laugh. These are tips I've gathered from ACFW workshops taught by people like the fabulous Jenny B Jones and Janice Thompson, as well as a few things I've figured out myself along the way. Hopefully you'll find they work for you as well!

You may be thinking, "Well, this is good and all, but I don't write comedy. How does this blog affect me?" I'm glad you asked. Even what we consider literary classics make use of comedy--take a look at Shakespeare. You don't have to be a romantic comedy writer to throw a joke or two into your prose. Giving the reader a comedic moment will allow him or her a little breathing room to process the deeper message of your book. And if you do write comedy, all the better!

1) Be specific. This is something I picked up from Jenny B Jones. It's amazing how the more specific you are, the funnier something becomes. Maybe your character burns a batch of brownies. (I know, you're thinking--that's not comedy, that's a tragedy--but stick with me.) Not very funny, right? But what if smoke begins to fill up the kitchen, and she's on the phone with her neighbor who sees the smoke coming out her open window, and then the neighbor calls the fire department, and the first firefighter on the scene is the very attractive man your character met last week, and then she realizes she's wearing fuzzy socks and her Hello Kitty pajamas?

2) Be ironic. Establish an expectation for the reader, and then surprise them. I'm not talking about the kind of surprises that will make your readers hate you, like killing off a beloved character without warning. I'm talking about inverting an expectation for the sake of humor. One way to do this is to put a twist on an old cliche: "Before you gossip, walk a mile in her Spanx--you'd be grouchy too." Another way to do it is to take a stereotype and then twist it for the sake of humor. The possibilities are endless.

3) Be yourself. I think grammar jokes are funny. I run and flail when I see a wasp. I inwardly cringe before touching public doorhandles. In real life, these things make me a nerd. On paper, these things suddenly become funny. Start paying attention to the details in your own life, and you'll realize your quirks make excellent fodder for your characters. Do you sing loudly to yourself in the car? Do you have a unique way of cleaning ceiling fans? What do you do when you see someone in the mall who you don't want to speak with? Write that in your book. Don't worry. We won't tell anyone these embarrassing moments actually happened to you.

4) When in doubt, use a kid, a grandmother, or an animal. For some reason, these things are always funny.

Have you tried your hand at writing comedy? What tips do you have to share that helped you find a humorous note in your writing? Can you think of any examples from your day to day life that might work well as a comedic scene in your book? I'd love to hear your funny stories. :)

*Dog photo taken from http://piccsy.com/2011/12/no-idea-6exq1cdmr/

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Ashley Clark writes romantic comedy with southern grace. Born and raised in the South, her favorite vegetable is macaroni and cheese, and she loves sweet tea. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. She's thrilled to be represented by the fabulous Karen Solem. You can read more of Ashley's thoughts on writing, crafts, and life on her personal blog: http://ashleyclarkwrites.blogspot.com/. She's also on Facebook and Twitter (writerashley).

Give Yourself a Break!

2012-02-08T02:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I jumped headfirst into the waters of my first manuscript and didn't come to the surface for, oh, like six months.

Then I realized I had a family who wanted me to feed them and talk to them.

But then the pressures of succeeding pressed in again, and I had to keep writing, keep editing, to prove to myself that I could do it. I could get an agent. I could get a contract.

I pushed through the exhaustion, the doubts, and the prose I'd drafted with one goal in mind. Get published.

Last summer I came one step closer to that goal when I landed an agent. And praise the Lord, my agent understands how difficult my current phase of life is...living as a stay-at-home mom with two young children. But not all writers find themselves in such a flexible situation.

I've recently talked to friends who are unagented who are facing the doubts and the pressures. They keep hearing that they should meet a certain word-count quota or they're placing self-imposed pressure to get to the next step. In all these interactions, one thing keeps coming to mind.

SLOW. DOWN.

Yes, I'm shouting those words. You see, in this pre-agented/pre-published stage of your writing career, this is one time when YOU get to choose your deadlines. You get to soak in all you can, to write for the pure joy of it, without time pressure or content expectations.

Obviously if your ultimate goal is to get published, you want to craft a story that will be publishable. And sure, plenty of people recommend sticking to a regular writing schedule.

But I'm here today to take the pressure off of you. If you have a family who needs you, throw the writing schedule to the wind for a while. If you're facing a tough emotional struggle, write something to soothe your hurts rather than pumping out drivel that you don't feel.

This is one time you are free to write whatever you want, whenever you want. So embrace it! And enjoy the moment. Because once you're published, you can never go back.

What sort of pressures do you place on yourself or your writing journey? Do you find yourself anxious to make it to the next step of your career? How often do you slow down and just enjoy where you're at?

*Water photo by Koratmember / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
**Odometer photo by Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Sarah Forgrave is a stay-at-home writer-mom who feels blessed to pursue her calling and passion. She writes contemporary romance for the inspirational market and is a regular contributor to the webzine Ungrind.

To learn more about Sarah, visit her personal blog at:
http://www.sarahforgrave.com/blog

How's It Going to End?

2012-02-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."-Sir Winston Churchill

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.-James 1:4

Today I received a cute little black and gold badge from ACFW. It will sit in my inbox for a little while, so I can take it out on discouraging days and remember.

Because one year ago today, finishing my novel was a joke. I didn't think I would ever accomplish it. I was discouraged by my first year of homeschooling and all that entailed. I didn't make the time to write. I didn't think I had the time.

Yet somewhere along the way I discovered I needed to make the time. Writing is a ministry and even if I don't ever show my work to anyone else God has used it in my own heart to craft changes in me.

ACFW 2011. My homeschool group was starting that week. It keeps me quite busy with teaching and serving, I didn't think I would have a minute to miss the fact that I wasn't at ACFW. The truth was...I didn't deserve to be at ACFW, right? I didn't even have a manuscript finished. That night I decided to watch the ACFW awards streaming. Our dear Alley friends were sweet enough to send those of us at home pictures from their phones, and Sherrinda and I were able to chat online from our homes.

That night I broke down bawling. I told my husband, Chris, I really didn't think I would finish my manuscript. Maybe it just wasn't my time for writing and maybe I should let go of the dream. Maybe someday I would finish my book, but I was skeptical.

My husband reminded me of all the "accidents" that had happened in the short time since I had started writing. He knows we don't believe in "accidents."

Then he gave me an ultimatum. "I want you to write every other day for one hour for at least a month. If you do, I'll buy you the ACFW conference CDs."

It wasn't about the CDs. It was about the challenge. I needed to prove to myself that I could finish this book.

Shortly afterward I talked to my dear Alley mate, Casey, on the phone. Y'all know that Casey is a bonafide cheerleader!! She told me about #1K/1hr on twitter. Now I had a challenge and a goal. Casey held my toes to the fire (just kidding, of course), the truth is the Lord knew I needed accountability to finish my book and so he gave me a persisent online pal and a husband who wanted me to reach my dreams.

So this novel I started a year and a half ago has been finished in 1K/1 hour segments several times a week from September through February 4th.

Do you have to give something up to reach that goal?

I loved blogging and book reviewing. I still review for the Title Trakk on a regular basis, but I've given up my personal blog and the rest of my book reviewing. I do not get on Twitter or Facebook. (Although I do click on the bottom of the post to "tweet" my Alleymates posts when I can). I no longer keep up on blogs.

Possibly I have missed some great contacts that will help me later on. I know I have missed catching up with online friends I have met.

But writing is just one piece of my pie. I prefer to spend that time on my novel, as per Jody Hedlund's advice here ("How Much Time Should Writers Devote to Social Media").

There are other things I've had to give up along the way. That's just part of the journey.

I don't know how its going to end, this writing journey. In the end I just keep pressing towards the mark. Falling far short at times. Many times.

If you've finished a manuscript or even if you haven't, I challenge you to take the time to thank someone who has helped you along the way.

What has helped you reach your writing goal? Who has helped you along the way?

(I hope you'll permit me the indulgence to post my badge here, since I no longer blog on my personal blog).

Julia enjoys writing women's fiction whenever she can find a chair free of smushed peanut butter sandwiches and lego blocks. She is a wife and homeschooling mama of two littles. She also enjoys reading and reviewing books for The Title Trakk, a Christian review site.

After You Hit SEND

2012-02-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

Recently, I sent off a proposal. It was a big feat for me, since I had just come off of a writing break. While I worked on getting the proposal together, things came into place—I am scared of proposal writing, so when I stepped back and realized I had completed all the elements of my proposal (with a huge help from my crit partner!) I was thrilled! I read through it several times, thanked God for each error I found and corrected, then took the plunge and pressed SEND. AAAAHHHHHH!

Now, I am facing pressing SEND for Genesis, and I am sure many of you are too. Over the past year of querying and sending, I have learned a few things about what to do after you SEND:

1.Don't Look Back-- Remember how I said I read through my proposal several times before hitting send?? Well, when I went back and read through it again, I cringed at some minor, but obvious typos that decided to hide themselves from my eyes before. I can't do anything about them, just pray, pray, pray. The only thing looking back did for me is chip away at my confidence. Sure, if you use the same proposal or entry for another agent or contest, DO look back...but just like when you're climbing a ladder you shouldn't look down, don't look back to find mistakes that you can't fix.

2.Keep on Writing-- Sometimes the euphoria of hope in your submission catching an eye, or your entry moving to semi-finals, makes you puff out your writing feathers and strut around waiting for the phone call. Don't forget, writing is a journey! You don't want to hang out at the pit stop and munch on pork rinds and hot tamales thinking your “it” before you are. KEEP WRITING AND LEARNING. It's not etched in stone, it's not finished, you can always improve your game...hey, maybe I just negated point #1...but if you feel yourself getting this way, then do look back!

3. Remember Who You Are-- Yes, you are a writer, but before that, before any dream, you are a child of God. He cares for you regardless of the competition, regardless of the stellar agent signing you on. Nothing can change His love for you, and if you don't win or sign a contract, remember, everything happens for your good and His glory. You are right where He wants you to be, and if you're not, He's big enough to get you there!

I have struggled with these points, and it's been a lot of thinking and praying to get me to understand the importance of these tips. I'd like to share a song with you that every writer needs to hear after pressing SEND.

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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and CEO of a family of six.

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

2012-02-04T02:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Since Groundhog Day was this week – AND since he saw his shadow- it looks like we’re going to have 6 more weeks of winter.

If you can call it winter.

In most parts of the U.S. the temperature has been unseasonably warm.

So what are your thoughts about the weather? Do you like a cool winter or are you enjoying the spring-like temps in January and February?

Let’s find out what’s happening on The Alley this week.

Monday – Are you getting ready for a contest entry? Maybe an agent or editor submission? Then check out Angie’s post about what happens “After you hit send”.

Tuesday and Wednesday- Julia and Sarah are brewing up some great posts for Tuesday and Wednesday, but you’ll have to stop in to find out what they are. No doubt it will be the perfect blend of humor, talent, and creativity.

Thursday – Give our newest Alley Cat another welcome as Ashley talks about sprinkling humor into your fiction. (Is Ashley CUTE or WHAT?!?)

Friday – Cindy strikes a more serious chord this week as she discusses when is the right time to lay aside your manuscript.

A GREAT contest update at Seekerville yesterday, including the Genesis final judges’ list. Follow this link to check it OUT!

Critique Partners: How the Heck Do You Find One?

2012-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

So, you've decided that you want to take the plunge and join a critique group.

Um, that's find and good and all.

But how are you going to find one?

MAKE A NEEDS LIST

The first step is to make a list of what your own personal needs/wants are in a critique partnership.

Do you want a bigger group, or just a one or two-person partnership?
How much time do you want to devote to this?
Do you want a local in-person group, or would an online group suffice?
Do you want to "meet" to discuss at a set increment of time, or keep it informal?
How often do you want to submit?
What "level" of critiquers are you looking for?

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

Once you know what you want out of a critique group, it's time to look for one. This is easier said than done.

Some tips:

Join writer's groups, both online and locally. Many already have modules in place to help place you in a critique group.
Network, Network, Network. And then network some more. Visit writer's blogs. Like them or Friend them on Facebook. Follow them on twitter. Generally, just stalk them. (just not in a creepy way, thank you very much.) Some of the BEST critique relationships are grown organically out of relationships built.
Be bold. (but not too annoying.) It doesn't hurt to ask someone if they are looking for a crit group. Or, just put it out there that you're looking for one. There is a distinct possibility that someone else in your "realm" is looking for the same thing.
Once you find someone interested, don't be afraid to discuss it before jumping in. Make sure your goals and expectations match. Exchange a chapter and make sure you are comfortable offering feedback. It is totally okay to say, "You know what, thanks so much for being willing to critique my stuff, but I don't think I'm the best person to critique your work."
Have a trial period. Say, try it out for a month, and if it isn't working with your schedule or if it just isn't clicking, you can walk away. Granted, you can ALWAYS walk away from a critique partner, but this give you an easier out if the good-vibes just aren't there.

My story:

I've gone through a few groups. The thing is: I don't regret any of them! They all served a purpose for the time I had them, and I'm a better writer for them.

My first group will always be dear to my heart. They took a fledgling author that didn't know ANY writing rules and taught me the basics. They read through my whole manuscript that first year and allowed me to cut my teeth on it, so to speak. I learned about POV and adverb usage and, wow. Pretty much every elementary writing guideline there is!

But eventually we outgrew each other, and some got busy, and we naturally went our separate ways. We still e-mail from time to time.

After that, I was in a group from ACFW's new critique system. The ladies in this group where fabulous, but I realized quickly that I was way in over my head. There were 5 of us submitting frequently I believe, and it was just way too many for me to keep track. I was spending more time critiquing than I was writing. In my stage of life and writing, it just wasn't conducive.

Next, I tried a local writer's group. I LOVED these women, and still do, but after a few months, it was clear that while our critiques were great, timing wasn't fabulous for any of us.

Then last year, I mentioned to my fellow alley-cats that I'd decided that a crit group was not for me, and would rather start looking for a crit "partner" as I felt that, since I was now contracted and agented, I really didn't have time for much more than that.

Low and behold... Sarah, my fellow alley-cat, e-mailed me, saying that she'd been looking for a crit partner too! She already had one, but was wanting to add one more separate partner.

I said, YES YES YES!

Well, first we talked about what we wanted out of the group. We both didn't want "a chapter a month" but to be able to send larger chunks as needed, and to be flexible. We wanted to be able to brainstorm ideas and just in general be a support to each other.

It was a match made heaven... er, the alley!

Discussion: Do you have a crit group/partner? How did you find one? Are you currently looking?

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and a contemporary romance author. She recognizes that life can be frustrating and just plain not fun sometimes, but believes that laughter and smiles can make the not-so-fun a little better! She blogs about the amazing things God has been doing and her journey as a busy momma of 4 and caregiver to a daughter with a rare congenital heart defect at http://reflectionsbykrista.blogspot.com. She is also a contributor at www.wordservewatercooler.com. She is represented by the fab agent, Rachelle Gardner, and her debut novel, Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, releases in September 2012.

Nixing the Passive. On With the Active!

2012-02-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

I recently read through my second contemporary novel’s firstdraft. Wow. Mess is one way to describe, but passive is a more correct adjective. And I realized that along withtoo much character introspection, my writing was much too passive to truly drawthe reader into the scenes.

As readers we want to become invested in action. We want to feel the drama of the characters and join their world. Passive writing won’tdo that. You can’t feel the thump of a heartbeat in passive description. Youcan’t smell the fried foods or taste fear on the back of your own tongue whenthe writing doesn’t paint that vivid picture.

What can you changeto take your writing from passive to active?

Vivid Verbs

Your words pack punch. Or they can. Chose the strongestverbs, the best descriptions and put yourselfin that scene. What would you think or feel or touch or smell or taste? Allof the senses in some way play a role in every scene, in every emotion. What one different sense can you use foryour character in each scene to make it come alive? Think along the linesof taking an emotion and giving it a personality.

Dialogue

Dialogue is always active. A lot of mistakes canbe made with dialogue, but no matter what, it is always forward action. Tell the story between the quotes (viaRachel Hauck). One of the best pieces of advice I was given this year at theACFW conference was from Cynthia Ruchti. Cynthia told me to take my characters’thoughts and put them into dialogue. Instantly your character will look lessself-centered and move the plot forward in a natural way.

Action

When in doubt kill a character.

Okay, so that Mary Connealy advice doesn’t work for allwriters, but therein lies the truth. When writing your story—or actually as yougo through and edit your story, lookfor every opportunity to give your characters an action to perform. Even something as simple as grocery shopping canproduce tension when you utilize the right emotionsand verbs to make an activescene that is indicative of their inneremotions.

Passive writing is nothopeless. Rather, look at it as a palette that still needs a splash ofcolor. You have laid down the ground work for the story. You’ve got thecharacters, the basic emotions, the motivations and where you want the story togo. Now you need to take that greatbeginning and craft it. One thing I love to do is take each scene and leave itup in a neighboring window. Then start re-writing it in a second window, butthis time, don’t settle for the easy and push beyond the passive to write inthe active.

What suggestions doyou have to conquer passive writing?

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Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in rural Eastern Oregon in a town more densely populated with cows than people.

Amazing Descriptors

2012-02-01T02:00:00.000-08:00

When you think about it, a book is a descriptor. It describes a situation packed with joys and sorrows, friends and enemies, crises and triumphs. That situation has chapters which serve as sub descriptors leading the reader through the the book.

Each page paints even greater detail.

But the greatest, power packed descriptors are the individual phrases and words.

Finding unique ways to explain an image to readers is difficult. We find our words falling into inescapable ruts. The same phrases sound worse than a broken record: he smiled, she laughed. BORING.

Sometimes we use a metaphor or simile to rescue the scene. But after time, the page has a Valley Girl sound (like, like, like).

Recently, I stumble on a new vat of unique descriptors. With the help of two fanatic football co-workers, (Ben and Marc) I was able to research devotee football commentators whose descriptors paint unique, specific, sharp pictures of "up to the moment play action":

Sunday's Superbowl

Giants vs Patriots

I started watching football as a child with my dad. Not until recently did I notice the rich descriptors given during the game. Whether you're a viewer or a listener, you'll have instant video images in your head thanks to the announcers/commentators.

This Sunday, a wealth of vivid descriptions will nuke the sauerkraut taste of football away for non football folk.

Here are some amazing descriptors gleamed from recent games: (I turned down the crowd noises to help you hear the announcers/commentators)

He's about a third grader shy of what he should weigh
...But not losing his feet (player ran close to the sideline)
He pinballed him backwards
He sledgehammered that play
They need to stop this Juggernaut of an offense. (I had to look that up!)

Look at the real estate! (referring to the open space the quarterback had to throw the ball)
Pin point accuracy
He's got a convoy with him (a pack of opposing players trailing)
He just took him and fork lifted him.
With a buck fifty three left on the clock

Smith, their burner (fastest runner)
The safety came down like a robber
It's like Ali punching Frazier
The high fives are so firm no one better miss or they'll take it in the face.
Williams blasted into him.

The Ravens are knocking on the door
An electric stadium
He's not taking his foot off the gas
There's a nice gaping hole there
This defense is playing lights out (sleeping on the job)
That's a first down in traffic
He got waffled

What a great way to amplify and clarify words like: tackle, pass, running, fumble, audience excitement, and etc.

Grab your tacos, Cheetos, Doritos, Fritos, Tostitos, or burritos and laptop. Sit with the football fans in your life and gleam a storehouse full of vibrant descriptors not only from the announcers but also from the body language of those in your living room.

Warning: Do not watch a football game alone. Excitement unshared may not be good for your health. 4 out of 5 doctors recommend joining a spouse, brother, social group, father, sister, husband, neighbor, or someone else special in your life while viewing football.

How about you--what creative situation have you found amazing descriptors lurking?

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This blog post is by Mary Vee- a foot ball fan.

Mary lives in Montana with her husband and loves to hear from her three college kids. She writes Christian young adult fiction (pirate tales, missionary and Bible adventure stories).

She thinks of writing as: Stepping into Someone Else's World.

To learn more about Mary, visit her blog http://www.mimaryvee.blogspot.com

Talking Heads In Your Novel Writing

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of my writing journey, I was overcome by an invasion - an invasion of the Talking Heads. I was blindsided by these creatures, because I didn't know any better. These Talking Heads took over my manuscript until I learned how to creatively combat them.

Talking Heads occurs when two characters converse together without any action, description, setting, or mood. It's just two people talking back and forth, confusing the reader as to who is who, and therefore losing the flow of the story.

So how do we get rid of these pesky buggers?

Action Tags: Break up the dialogue with action from the character. Have a character cook, open the refrigerator, get a drink, pick up toys off the floor, etc. Simple things that a character can do will help identify them and give the reader a sense of placement in the scene.

Descriptive Setting: Add a touch of descriptive setting into an action tag. Have the character pick at the folds of the red checkered tablecloth; or plop into a worn, threadbare recliner; or step over a huge mound of dirty laundry. These give the reader hints into the life of the character and anchors them into the scene.

Inner thoughts: Get into deep POV and express the thoughts of your character. Have your character say one thing, yet think the total opposite. Or let the character think through a problem he/she is arguing about with the other character.

Body Language: This may be one of my favorite things to combat Talking Heads. Using the character's body to give a sense of their feelings helps to identify them in the scene. Have your character roll their eyes, heave a sigh, slam a door, or run their hands through their hair. These convey (show) feelings instead of "telling" them to the reader.

What else can you add to the list of defense against the Talking Heads?

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This post is brought to you by

Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

Handling Changes in the Publishing Industry with Guest Erica Vetsch

2012-01-30T01:54:00.000-08:00

Casey here: I fell in love with Erica Vetsch through the pages of her books. Her personality and warmth on Twitter and finally in PERSON at the ACFW conference and was just a *tiny* bit excited to spot her walking across the hotel restuarant. I might have flung myself upon her...but we'll leave that up for you to assume. ;-)

I'm excited to have her guesting today on The Writer's Alley with her usual blend of charm, humor and wisdom. Here is Erica....

If you’ve spent any time at all pursuing publication, you know changes happen. Predicting them is impossible, timing them even more so. I’ve often asked myself ‘How can something that moves as slowly as the publishing industry change as quickly as the publishing industry?’

When you first start out as a writer pursuing publication, the wait just about kills you. Waiting for an agent’s approval, waiting for a publisher’s offer, waiting for your release date. Slow, slow, slow. Nothing ever changes, nothing ever will.

But consider how quickly things can happen in the publishing industry. Amazon began selling books online in 1994, revolutionizing how many people purchased their books. It’s only been five years ssince Amazon introduced the Kindle, completely changing e-readers and e-books. The e-book side of publishing has exploded in ways and directions unforeseen. Publishers, agents, bookstores, and authors are scrambling to establish a ‘new normal.’ Changes are rampant in the publishing industry. Publishing houses close, consolidate, are bought and sold, editors leave, editors come. It’s impossible to keep up.

And industry-wide changes aren’t the only changes an author can expect. In the last six months, I’ve been told the line I was writing for was being closed and my last book wouldn’t be released, then was told the line was in the process of being sold and my last book would be released. I’ve been informed that my agent was moving to a new agency and I needed to decide if I was going with her or if I was staying with my current agency. My publisher let me know one of my books that was scheduled to release in June would now release in December. And these changes that have happened to me recently aren’t as heart-wrenching as those some of my author friends have experienced. They’ve had book contracts cancelled, been dropped by their publisher, had their agents quit altogether.

So how does a writer handle all these changes that seem to come willy-nilly and in bunches? Here are three tips I’ve found helpful:

1. Take a deep breath. There are always those out there who are sounding the death knell of publishing. In fact, I recently read an article that said ‘publishing is in love with its own demise.’ The end of the publishing world as we know it had been foretold, lamented, and mourned. And yet, here we are, still plugging away. Books are being published, contracts are being issued, readers continue to buy books. Take a deep breath. It will be okay.

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2. Educate yourself. You have nothing to gain by cowering in fear. If you wonder how e-books are affecting the book industry, ask questions of those who know. I had lots of questions this past fall about publishers offering free e-books on Kindle. How was this affecting sales of other books? Was the plethora of free content available keeping folks from buying books? So I asked. I talked with my agent, with my publisher, with industry professionals, and with other authors who had books free on Kindle. By gathering information and advice from industry professionals who knew what they were talking about, I was able to allay my own fears and get some questions answered.

3. Expect change and know that not all change is bad. If you dove into writing for publication because it was the most steady and secure employment you could think of…you’re in the wrong business! In this industry, you must expect changes and prepare for them as best as you can. Nothing is certain, and many things are out of your control. Rather than wallow in fear and uncertainty, prepare yourself to roll with the changes. Keep an open mind about whether a change is good or bad. That isn’t to say some changes might not be painful or that just by expecting change, change will be easy. But my own experience has taught me that by being open to change, being flexible, and not basing my self-worth on being or getting published, I can better handle the inevitable changes that being a writer brings.

How about you? How do you handle changes in the publishing industry? Have you had to adapt and change when things don’t turn out like you plan?

My latest release:

A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas

About the Book: Hoping to leave the shadows of her shady yesteryears behind, Adeline Reid is focusing on her photography career. But when her ex-boyfriend’s compatriot in crime shows up in Dodge City her entire past is threatened by exposure. Can Addie keep her secrets while helping to catch a killer? Deputy Miles Carr’s investigation into a shopkeeper’s murder leads him to Addie’s door. Will his attraction to this female photographer keep him from catching the true culprit? Or will Addie lead him off course in more ways than one?

Author Bio: Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and reading, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical fiction set in the American West. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two terrific teens, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

Find Me On Facebook

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Casey here again. What are your concerns about the changing market? Do you fear trying to sell your book with so many seemingly fickle and rotating demands?

What's Up the Street for Next Week?

2012-01-28T01:29:00.000-08:00

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The pitches are in.

The votes are cast.

The numbers tallied and checked.

And we have a WINNER of the pitch contest. But you didn't think I would tell you right now, did you?

Of course not. ;-) Keep reading...

Coming up...

Erica Vetsch will be our guest here on the Alley on Monday! Talking about the ever-changing swings in the industry.

The lovely Miss Sherrinda is your hostess on Tuesday.

Enter the amazing world of descriptions on Wednesday with Mary.

Nix that passive in your writing with Casey on Thursday.

It's Critique Partners Part II with Krista on Friday. Catch up on Part I here.

NewsStand...

We had a tremendous number of pitches to enter the contest for Rachel Hauck to perform My Book Therapy on the first 1,000 words of your story. But it finally came down to this pitch and the judges (who will remain nameless to protect the innocent) chose...

When a confirmed bachelorinherits his sister's four kids, he knows he can't do it all on his own.
But he can't mail order a bride - can he find one on Craigslist?

If this is your pitch, email your first 1,000 words only to the Writer's Alley email: thewritersalleys(@)gmail(.)com. Once it has been critiqued by Rachel it'll be posted HERE on the Alley--a great learning experience for all of us. ;-)

Thanks all and happy weekend!!

Top 5 Tips Writers Can Learn From Reality TV

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

All right, I have to admit it. I love reality TV. I watch The Bachelor, I watch Project Runway (Allstars is awesome by the way! Anyone see Miss Piggy?). I get caught up sometimes. Not with all of them, but I enjoy these shows.

Maybe you're not a television fan, or at least not reality television, and that's just fine. Because you have ME to tell you writers out there just what it is about reality TV that keeps the fans coming back for more. Or even better, what YOU can take away from reality television and use in your own writing.

Relatable (or Unrelatable) Characters

Yeah, so sometimes I can't really relate to someone who is trying to wow Mr. Bachelor with her stellar flirting skills. But what we weekly watchers can relate to is that these women, or men, on these shows are real people. They're vulnerable. Like when they give you the back story on American Idol and you exclaim, "Oh, man, now I really want Monique to win!" And even we we don't exactly like they way certain people play the game or portray themselves on national television, we still have some sort of emotion toward them. They have feelings, they have aspirations and dreams, and we all know what that's like!

Conflict (or Drama!)

Reality TV is full of drama. Sometimes that's precisely why people DON'T like it. But one thing that's for sure, that's what keeps the ratings up. There's always something in every episode. A family emergency, a new character stepping onto the scene, the past rearing its ugly head in someone's life. Or someone simply showing their vulnerability, having a bit of a break down, and changing the course of the show. We want these things for our stories. We want conflict!

The Unknown

This is also what we want for our books! Reality TV has the penchant to catch us off balance, and that's not a bad thing - particularly not for writing books. There are plenty of times you have no idea what's going to happen and that's a characteristic of a good book. We don't want cliche storylines or settings (which is why I'm seriously going to try hard with my new WIP to NOT write even ONE scene in a coffee shop).

The Unexpected

This kind of goes along with the unknown. This is all about characters. On these reality shows, people have bigger than life personalities, they act in ways we don't expect. Yes, we want our readers to relate to our characters, but we also have to give them insistent personalities. Characters that aren't going to just let life happen to them, but are going to make things happen.

Cliffhangers and Hooks

Oh yeah. Leaving us hanging is a reality (or even regular TV) shows greatest tool. They hook us before commercials and hook us at the end of the show. As someone who isn't fabulous with hooks, I could learn a lot here. Ending chapters or scenes at just the right time, with something for the reader to hang onto, will help keep up pacing and give your readers (like reality television watchers) something to tune in for.

So if you're not a fan of The Bachelor, is this making you want to try it? It's okay if it isn't. We're writers, after all, and we're supposed to be focusing on writing, not TV. After this season is over, however, I'll probably get a LOT more writing done.

What about all you writers out there? Have you learned anything about writing from television, and which tip is easiest or hardest for you in your writing?

***photo courtesy of ABC

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Welcome to the Alley Ashley Clark!

2012-01-26T01:23:00.000-08:00

When we knew the time had come to make a few changes here on the Writer's Alley and welcome a new author into our ranks, we did so with a great deal of chatting through our email loop.

Oh the emails that flew!

And when Ashley Clark was suggested...it as if gold was struck. Angie's critique partner, Pepper's friend and known by several other Alley Cats, we were delighted when she accepted our invitation.

We think you'll love her as much as we already to. It is with great excitement that we share Ashley's debut post on the Alley and hope you give her a rousing welcome! She's going to be a great addition. :-))

Do you have any non-writing interests? If so, how do you balance them with writing and working?

Let’s see. I love exploring new places, everything from charming Southern towns to Hawaiian islands. I’ve recently taught myself to knit and crochet, which always seems most fun whenever you’re first beginning or ending a project. And I love my puppies. I’m passionate about animal rescue and am always picking up stray dogs and finding them homes. As for balancing my interests with writing and working, that’s one of the things I love best about writing—you can get inspiration in the most unlikely places! I find that if I just sit at home to write, I’m usually less productive than if I get out and find something I feel excited to write about.

When do you write, where do you write, and what writing attire do you write best in?

I’m in a very fortunate position in my life right now in that I’m a part-time university instructor, so I have a fairly flexible schedule. I usually write in the afternoon because I am not a morning person, although I find my best writing is usually done about an hour or two after I should be asleep. Something about late-night writing, once everything else is quiet and the world is fast asleep, wakes up my imagination. I write in places I can force myself to focus and where I can find a creative environment, so sometimes that’s my sofa, sometimes it’s my office, and other times it’s a coffee shop like Starbucks. And I like to write wearing a cardigan, jeans, and a pair of Snoozies. Snoozies are of uptmost importance. You can find your very own pair here: http://www.yoursnoozies.com/

You get my brainstorming question…. I give you four random items and genre, you come up with a short pitch for a book that includes each of those items. MUHAHA!

Here goes: Genre = Amish Romance

Items: Blu-ray player, Starbucks Cake Pops, Confederate Money, and Furniture polish. GO! :-)

A teenage girl invents a time machine when she hooks her Blu-ray player into her Delorean. And no, she’s not just sniffing furniture polish. But will an Amish boy convince her that true love knows no time barrier as he offers to buy her a ring with his father’s Confederate money, or will Starbucks Cake Pops call her home?

What is the best writing advice you've ever received?

Pepper and Ashley at ACFW 2011

Tough question! My very first appointment at a writing conference was with one of my writing heroes, Ami McConnell. I was so nervous, I was lucky I retained the ability to remember my name. I remember her telling me that my writing voice was strong, but that I needed to incorporate more impactful plot elements into my voice to make it effective. I went back to that advice every day in my mind as I composed my most recent novel, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Those thirty seconds changed the course of my writing.

What is the best writing advice you feel you should give at this point of your writing journey?

God is truly faithful to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or even imagine. Think about that. Do we really believe it? God promises more than you can even imagine to ask him. If God has equipped you to write—whether you are unpublished, unagented, or your sales have hit a slump after fourteen books—you can trust that even if it doesn’t look the way you think it will, God will fulfill your dreams. He is far more faithful than we are.

If you could rewrite any classic novel as a rom com, which would it be? Why?

Oh goodness! What a hard question. How about Lord of the Flies to make it bearable for high school students? Just kidding! I’d have to say I would pick a Jane Austen novel, even though her stories already have a lot of comedic elements, because I think they’d translate well to my interests and writing style. Plus, who doesn’t love Mr. Darcy?

If you couldn't write for a career and had to pick something else, what would you want to do for the rest of your life?

Well, I love being a literature instructor, so I’d definitely continue to pursue that. In fact, I knew I wanted to be a teacher before I ever fell in love with fiction writing.

Then of course, there’s always the option of being a tour guide in Waikiki. Or maybe I could be a hula dancer. Do you have to be Hawaiian to do that? Definitely something to look into.

Since you write romantic comedy, I'm curious...What's the funniest scene you've written in a book that happened to you in real life?

Oh goodness—I get so much of my material from embarrassing things that actually happen to me, or that happen to people who are mean to me. Just kidding about that last part! Well, mostly. Anyway, if I had to choose, I would have to say when my character Grace passes out in an airport bathroom. You have to understand that Grace, like me, is terrified of germs, so this is pretty much her worst nightmare. Now, I haven’t actually passed out in an airport bathroom, but I do have this terrible tendency to faint after stressful doctor’s visits. Usually it goes something like this: the black spots all begin to converge in my sight right as I’m writing the check to pay. “Are you okay?” The lady at the desk asks. “You look a little pale.” Ripping out the check quicker, I reply, “Oh yeah, I’m good. Thanks.” Then I rush out to the parking lot where I put my head between my legs until my hearing returns to normal. One time my mom even had to buy me a Coke and blast the air conditioner until I felt better—thank goodness she was with me, or I might’ve hit the pavement!

Welcome to the Writer's Alley, Ashley, we are so thrilled to have you join us and share with us what you have learned on this writing journey!

If you would like to know more about Ashley visit the "Shopkeepers" page at the top of the Alley blog page or check out her blog at http://ashleyclarkwrites.blogspot.com. And you might also know Ashley is listed under the link in the sidebar of Alley agents, because...Karen Solem is her agent. Congratulations! :-)

If you watch the short video below, you'll also see Ashley (and our dear Pepper).

It'll be exciting to see what God does in the coming months and years here on the Alley!!

How to Be a Better Blogger, Part 2

2012-01-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

So we've all jumped into the blogging waters and are wondering where to go from here, right?

Two weeks ago, I shared blogging tips that will help us determine the right blog schedule and content. Today I'd like to dive into more nitty-gritty tips. These are things we can incorporate into our posts to draw in even more readers and to make their experience more enjoyable.

Now before I start, I want to clarify that these are not "must-do's". You can pick and choose from these tips based on your personality and blog style and use what fits.

1) Use pictures. Did you notice how we use a lot of pictures on the Alley? Some people may gloss right over them, but for visual people, they can help create a warm and inviting environment. Not to mention they can hone in on the concept you're trying to convey.

2) Use checklists. Case in point in this post. :) Especially for instructional posts, checklists help make the content easier to read and remember.

3) Highlight or bold important sentences or points. Not only does this drive the concept home, but it's also great for readers who are short on time. If they need to skim, they can easily see the key points and respond.

4) Keep your paragraphs short. Blogs read much different than books, so we have to learn to write them differently. Keeping plenty of white space on the screen makes it easier on the eyes. And it also makes it quicker to read.

5) Keep your post short. There may be the occasional long-winded post that makes perfect sense. But in general, blog readers are very busy people. And they're more likely to return to your blog when they know you'll respect their time and get right to the point.

6) Ask questions at the end. Even though not everyone will respond, you may just draw out someone shy by asking their opinion. And that only serves to build the personal connection that is oh-so-important.

7) Give a sneak peek to your next post. If you plan your posts ahead, this can be a great way to whet your readers' appetites. It also shows that you're thinking intentionally about what you post and gives them a roadmap of what to expect.

8) Above all else, be genuine! I mentioned this in my last post, but it's so important I'm mentioning it again. People can sense phonies from a mile away, and they can also sense when you're blogging for your own purposes. Be genuine in your blogging relationships and show others you care. There's no substitute for it!

So let's get the dialogue going, shall we? :) Do you use any of these tricks on your blog? What other blogging tips have been successful for you?

*Social media photo by jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
**Question photo by Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Is Your Voice a Full Symphony...

2012-01-24T02:00:00.000-08:00

Or does it blend in with the choir.

Voice can easily take a good book and make it memorable.

Or lack of attention to voice can make a well-plotted novel seem humdrum.

I recently listened to Kaye Dacus' workshop on Voice from ACFW's 2010 conference. Dacus lamented the fact that much of CBA fiction is beginning to sound the same. Sure, we've followed all the rules to a tee. But perhaps the cost has been too high, as in some cases we are losing our voice, our very distinctiveness. It is an excellent CD I can highly recommend.

(Oh and by the way, if you haven't done so, be sure to read Kaye's Writing Series Index. Its chock-full of great writing advice on nearly every topic imaginable).

I had recently finished a book that had disappointed me. The writer had seemed to follow many of the rules we have learned about through countless writing books. Keep it fast-paced. Avoid passive voice. No adverbs. Show, don't tell.

I talked to my husband and finally found out what was troubling me. There was nothing that made this book unique. This book could have been written by anyone in my mind.

Recently I read another book by an author, Chris Fabry, who I think of as an armchair author for me. After reading several of his books I feel like I'm getting to know his voice as a writer and there's a comfort in that.

Another author I have recently read is Ginger Garrett. Her genre and style of writing are quite different from Chris', but she has a distinctive voice of her own that I love reading. Garrett is a storyteller who serves as a familiar travelogue on journeys through biblical lands, or early American history. She immediately captures my attention.

Another favorite of mine for voice is Laura Frantz. She is one of the rare historical fiction authors who has mastered the voice of the time period she writes in. Her beautiful prose is old-fashioned in a way that uniquely distinguishes her.

A common MFA in Creative Writing exercise I'm told is to imitate your favorite authors' styles. While I have no doubt there is value in this exercise...let's remember we're not called to be the next Willa Cather, L.M. Montgomery, or whoever else it is we admire.

Let's not forget that we can offer what no one else can...our voice.

Who are your favorite authors when it comes to voice? How would you describe their voice? Or how would you describe your own voice?

Short and Sweet: The One Page Synopsis

2012-01-23T02:22:00.000-08:00

So you've got a wip, or a finished novel, and whether it is for a contest or a proposal, you are asked to write a synopsis of your 300 page book, in O-N-E P-A-G-E. Hm. Seriously?

Yes, yes, it sounds like torture, but if you step back and think about it, this is a GREAT exercise. A one page synopsis makes you sit down and hash out your story, understand your character arc, and weed out the unnecessaries. Actually, if you do the synopsis before you have completed your manuscript, you might just tighten your plot and find yourself able to write the rest of the story with clearer vision.

After a couple of years of struggling with these babies, I've had some awesome critiques and advice from fellow writers that I'd like to share.

Tip #1: Only include major plot points that move the main character(s)/plot line forward. Your plot may have some great twists and turns, and the use of secondary characters to move the plot forward, but be sure to only focus on the significant things that get your character from point A to point B.

Here's an example from my own synopsis (keep in mind that Yana and Andres are the main characters):

Before:

The chief's second wife, Shina, births a stillborn. Chief Vio shuns her because of this. Shina has a history of lusting after other men, so when Yana discovers Shina and Alvarez in intimate conversation, she tells Andres to warn Alvarez about Shina's shameful desires.

UGH!! 

After:

When Yana discovers the commander in a heated embrace with her father's second wife, she warns Andres that the entire crew of Spaniards could be put to death. 

NOTE: Think of the synopsis from the perspective of your main character, and what it does to move the plot forward in their perspective.

Tip #2: Cut out unnecessary words as much as possible. Who loves flowery speech?? I do! I do! But one page is the limit:

My example (although, as I write this, I see even more ways I can cut this down!):

Before:

When they come to a great river, Andres is anxious to board their crude vessel, but fears the savages they may face on their voyage.

To the point:

When his crew comes to a great river, Andres boards their vessel, fearful of the savages they might find.

Tip #3: Use an active voice. This is something I have struggled with in my writing also...it's so easy to slip into passive voice (the dreaded “tell vs. show”). If you use the active voice, you have a better chance at keeping your word count down also.

My example:

Passive:

From Andres's heart-filled journal entries, he embellishes on his constant reliance on God's provision in the face of wild creatures, and disease among their crew.

Active:

Andres is determined to rely on God's provision in the face of wild creatures and threatening disease. 

Tip #4: Let your voice sing! What judge, agent, or editor wants to read a monotone play-by-play? Be sure to weave your voice in the presentation of your synopsis. Say it like you would write it in your book. Maybe even use some lines in your book if you can make them fit with the flow of the synopsis. Make it unique, make it YOURS!

What are your biggest concerns with a one-page synopsis? Do you have any tips you'd like to share?

Cami Tang offers her EXCELLENT professional advice on the one page synopsis! Check it out here.
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and CEO of a family of six.

What's Up The Street For Next Week?

2012-01-21T01:17:00.000-08:00

I sure hope you caught the contest update this week to have Rachel Hauck give a bit of live therapy on your story section! All it takes is to submit your pitch/log line for your story. You can find all the details here.

Time's almost up, you only have until Tuesday to get your pitches submitted!

It's exciting to also announced our newest Alley Cat this week! Check out the schedule to see who we will be welcoming to the blog. :-)

Coming up next week...

It's the perfect time of year for help with that one page synopsis and Angie has tips on Monday.
Julia is your hostess on Tuesday.
Part 1 of Better Blogger tips is already up. Be sure and read these great tips before Sarah's part 2 on Wednesday.

We welcome our newest Alley Cat, Ashley Clark to the blog on Thursday!

What can you learn from reality TV? Cindy has a list for writers on Friday.

Sidewalk Talk/ Random News Stand

Sarah has the fabulous Dense Hunter on her blog on Monday with her signature hilarious interviews and a great book giveaway!

What's up the new up and coming fiction featured this week? Check out Casey's blog for a new novel to add to your TBR pile.

The Frasier writing contest opens TODAY! Have you planned to enter yet?

Critique Partners: Am I ready?

2012-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

There comes a point in every writers life where they ask:

Am I ready for a critique partner?

There is no right or wrong answer.

In fact, for some writers, the answer is NO, and they'll never get or need one. They are a pretty secluded group though.

A few questions to ask yourself:

Have I completed a book? Some might disagree, but personally, I don't think you should get a critique partner until after you've at least finished your first draft of your first book.

Have I taken steps to learn the craft of writing? Have you read books on the craft? Gone to writing conferences? Studied other books in your genre? Not only does this help your own work in progress, but it develops skills that will make you valuable to a critique partner.

Is my book the BEST I can get it? Not only do you need to complete your book, but you should edit it as well. It is a waste of a critiquers time if they spend it all correcting things you could have easily fixed yourself.

How thick is my skin? Getting tough feedback from a writing peer is HARD. It can break the strongest person's writing will. So make sure you've worked that skin up and developed some callouses so you can take that feedback and apply it without becoming too emotional or bent out of shape.

Do I have the time? Not only are you devoting time to your own writing, taking on a crit partner also means you'll need to make time to edit THEIR material. It's a two-way street. Count the time costs and engage appropriately !

So... if you've decided that yes, it's time to make the crit partner leap, where do you go from there? Stay tuned for my next post in two weeks titled Critique Partners: How the heck do you find one?

If you've decided that nah, not to that point yet, good for you! Keep working toward that goal! You can do it!

Discussion: Do you have a crit partner/group relationship? Have you had one in the past? Share your experiences! If you haven't... why not?Are you just not ready or having trouble finding one?

An Alley First! A Writing Contest with a Pretty Fabulous Prize!

2012-01-19T00:05:00.000-08:00

How would you like to have Rachel Hauck, My Book Therapist, multi-published, best-selling author perform therapy on YOUR story?

That's right, you read it correctly.

But of course we have details. You didn't think it was going to be that easy did you? ;-)

Because we are a writing blog, we want to help you take your craft to the next level and we are very excited to have our guest, Rachel, do that, not just for one of you, but for all of us!

Now before Rachel hyperventilates at the nightmare of us all flooding her inbox with our 1,000 word excerpts, let me explain just a bit more.

The winner will send 1,000 words (and no more) of their story (a choice of a work in progress that you have) to Rachel, who will do therapy to the section. Once her magic is complete, Rachel will send it back to me...to then be posted here on the blog for all of us to learn from.

(side note: if you are the winner and don't wish to have your name on the section to be posted live on our blog, then please notify me when I email you the winner's details.)

This option does NOT come around very often. In fact, you really don't see this period, so I suggest you take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

**~The contest details~**

To enter the contest to send 1,000 words of your story to Rachel Hauck, in the comments, submit your LOG LINE or PITCH for your story.

An example of a pitch would be: All Jenna Hutch wants is a chance at normal newlywed bliss. But a haunting past and the secret of an unborn child threaten to unravel the fragile hope she has placed in tomorrow.

This was the pitch/ log line for my first contemporary novel , Releasing Yesterday.

We're looking for 1-2 sentences that sums up your story. Good things to include is: main character, story question and the main conflict

Since Rachel is a fiction author, we are going to default to fiction being the stories to be pitched in this contest.

Your pitch will be judged by the Alley Cats and may the best pitch win. :-)

This contest will be open until NEXT TUESDAY, January 24th with the winner announced in that Saturday's weekend edition, so you do have a *little* bit of time to perfect your pitch and get it submitted.

Woo-hoooo! It's an Alley first and we're super excited to have this opportunity to share it with you!

Inspire greatness and let's make this a slam-dunk success!!

Hooked

2012-01-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

I confess, I'm hooked.

I love to write.

I'm close to keying the words "The End" on the first manuscript that has potential, thanks to great mentors, classes, books, crit partners, writing friends, blogs...**News flash--as of the night before this post hit your computer--I finished!!

The question of the day is, will my beginning hook readers into turning pages?

Actually, depending on a reader's mood, the time of day, current crisis and joys, and a thousand other components like brand of chocolate, hooking a reader into our story can be a complex issue.

But, maybe today, you will gleam a helpful tool to smooth the complex into simple.

Tips to Writing a Good Hook

1. Start your story with the most intriguing situation.

For example: Say you wanted to write a story about a young woman's struggles.
The story begins: A young woman left work and is enroute to a restaurant where she plans to spend the last night with her fiancee before he is deployed. She discovers she is out of gas. She zooms into the gas station to put in a few gallons to hold her over until tomorrow.

Time to play the "what if game"

What if this story started instead with a teaser. A teen, pulls into the gas station. She hopes there is money left in her account. Jena reaches into the car to get her debit card, and suddenly feels strong labor pains. The baby wasn't due for three more weeks. Her sister and mother would arrive the next day. She had no social supports to call in the area and the only person at the gas station was the attendant who had headphones on. Jena is frightened, has no money, and doesn't know what to do.

In this case, we could start with the teen's plight, just enough to stir the reader's curiosity. Briefly build the scene with Jena's emotional conflict then break away to the woman's point of view.

For example: Angie leaves work, is caught in rush hour and notices the gas tank is on empty (she forgot to fill it that morning). Her fiancee received a call for deployment to Afghanistan. Since he would leave late that night he made reservations at the best restaurant for dinner. She stops at a gas station.

Inside the car at the pump in front of her is a female screaming. She goes to car and finds a distraught 19-year old woman. The woman shouts, "My baby is coming! Please help me." The only other person at the station is the gas attendant. I could call an ambulance and still have plenty of time to get to the restaurant. But she remembers the night her baby suddenly came, that horrible night several years ago when she was all alone ....

Now the two are brought together and the story can move forward, building conflict, growing characters, thickening subplots and deepening the overarching plot.

Igniting the perfect hook is like braiding hair or weaving yarn. It takes many pieces woven together to give a strong beginning and hold the story together. The chosen first piece rests on the bottom--not the top, it provides the underlying strength. It cannot stand alone. When the viewer sees the product the chosen first doesn't stand out. However, without the chosen first, there would not have been a hook, or a good product.

Camy Tang once mentored me with these words: "You need to start your story at __________ instead." Wow! Once I followed her instructions, my hook sounded good.

My next post, in two weeks, will continue this topic.

Have you found the perfect place to start your story?

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Image by: Freedigitalphotos.net

and Mary Vee

This blog post is by Mary Vee

Mary lives in Montana with her husband and loves to hear from her three college kids. She writes Christian young adult fiction (pirate tales, missionary and Bible adventure stories).

She thinks of writing as: Stepping into Someone Else's World.

To learn more about Mary, visit her blog http://www.mimaryvee.blogspot.com/

Themes and Story Premise in Novel Writing

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

Last week when I was asked what I was posting about today, I blurted out "themes", because 1) I didn't know what to post about, and 2) I have been thinking about the theme for my new WIP I am getting close to starting and figured I might have something to say about it. But now that I am sitting in front of the computer - the day before the post goes up - I am not really sure what to say about theme. Actually, there is not much to say.

Dictionary.com defines theme as: a unifying or dominant idea.

Every story has a theme or idea that moves the story forward. A good way to flesh out a theme is by the story premise...the "what if" question that drives the plot through to the end. Let's take a look at some examples and see if you can guess the movie.

1) What if a man falls in love with the woman who is carrying his beloved dead wife's heart?
2) What if a woman gets engaged, but must first get her husband, who she hasn't seen in 10 years, to sign divorce papers?
3) What if a child was left at home during Christmas and had to defend the house against burglars?
4) What if the rightful king was imprisoned behind a mask for most of his life?
5) What if a group of maids got together and wrote a book about their experiences - no matter the cost?

Okay, let's see how you did. The answers are:

1) Return to Me - unending love and second chances
2) Sweet Home Alabama - forgiveness and second chances
3) Home Alone - finding meaning in survival and understanding real love in family
4) Behind the Iron Mask - honor and integrity wins over lies and betrayal
5) The Help - the truth shall set you free

I like to think of themes as the underlying message you want to get across in your book. The "what if" question helps to hone the theme into your story's premise. It is the meat on the bone, so to speak. The icing on the cake. The ice cream on the cone. The cream in your coffee....okay, so I digress.

So you see, there is not much to a theme or story premise, but they are an oh-so-important aspect of your writing and your story.

Tell me...what is your story's theme and story premise? If you are not a writer, what is your favorite movie or book's theme and story premise?

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This post is brought to you by
Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

Getting Back in the Groove

2012-01-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

I think happens to all of us at some point or other.

We lose our groove.

Writing-wise, I mean. I don’t think I’ve ever found my groove for dancing. I can play a mean conga drum, but dancing? Nah! It’s one of those moments when my children cower in total humiliation – or for the younger ones, abject confusion :-)

The status of my writing groove has been questionable since the end of NaNoWriMo. After devoting every second to writing – and working it around my horribly busy schedule, I was exhausted. The craziness (and wonderful-ness) of Christmas came and went. THEN I started up my new university semester this month. My groove got lost somewhere along the way.

I truly believe that each writer has a typical way to ‘feed’ his/her groove, and many times, if we don’t pay attention to the type of creativity God birthed within us it can squelch our desire.

Some writers are ‘Stay the Course’ writers. They start a novel and methodically make it from beginning to end. Rarely do other story ideas distract them from their course, but if they feed the ‘new’ idea too much, they may lose their focus and drive for their WIP.

Some writers are “Plan first, Write Later”. They collect all of their research, data, character sketches, plotting charts, and scene by scene synopsis until the shape of the story is set, and THEN they write.

Other writers are “Tackle-Plan Writers”. They may be Pantsters who start their story and stop at various points along the way to gather research, reshape the novel, and solidify what they have.

Then there are people like me. I refer to my writing style as the “Doug-Writer”. Ever seen the moving “Up”. The dog on the movie up, named Doug, is constantly distracted by a ‘squirrel’. Well, that’s kind of like me. I am at my writing BEST when I can swing between two (or sometimes three) novels. Here’s why. I can write on one until I hit a wall, then switch and feel those wonderful creative juices flowing…until I hit a wall, then switch back. It REALLY suits my innate writing needs. (This type can also be referred to as Writer-ADHD)

When I’ve tried to be a Stay the Course writer, I lose my creativity and ‘fire’ (as Cathy Marie Hake calls it) after about two months. I really need to go ‘where the fire is’.

Along the way I’ve also discovered some practical ways to get my writing groove back. Here are a few:

1. Pray (duh…I wish I could say I always go to this one first.)

2. Read FABULOUS books from FABULOUS authors like….Julie Lessman, Mary Connealy, Liz Curtis Higgs, Siri Mitchell, Laura Frantz, Denise Hunter, Julie Klassen, Janice Hanna Thompson, or Susan May Warren.

3. Daydream – I have a very vivid imagination. When left to its own devices, it’s one of the things that gets me into trouble with too many stories  But it is always a way to reignite those creative sparks. Daydreaming about my wip can jumpstart my writing.

4. Watch an inspiring movie. I usually like to stick to a movie genre that is somehow related to my wip. Gleaning inspiration from other stories is a MUST for any writer, I believe.

5. Brainstorm with fellow writers. The Alley Cats are wonderful brainstormers, and one conversation with them can sometimes be the encouragement and the jumpstart I need to hop back into one story or other :-)

So….

Do you have some more writing styles to add to the list?

What do you do to get your writing groove back?

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Pepper Basham is a pastor’s wife, mom of five, and university instructor. She takes the storytelling elements of her Blue Ridge Mountain heritage and spices a variety of genres with grace and humor. She can be found causing mischief at her group blog The Writers Alley, or at http://www.pepperbasham.wordpress.com/

pictures courtesy of http://www.fanpop.com/spots/penguins-of-madagascar/images/21932618/title/king-julien-screencap

What's Up The Street For Next Week?

2012-01-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

A good book is always necessary.

Right?

Of course.

In fact, fiction should be a tax write off, shouldn't it? I mean, we learn from the fiction we read which makes our craft better. So it should be a tool we use in our writing.

I could go with that. ;-)

Throughout today's weekend edition, check out the recommendations from the Alley Cats in the best books they read in 2011.

ALSO be on the lookout for a super contest to hit the blog on Thursday. You aren't going to want to miss this one!

Up the street for next week...

Pepper will give you tips on on getting your writing groove back first thing on Monday (always good after a weekend, right? ;-)

Tuesday, Sherrinda tackles the all-important aspect of "theme" in our books.

Gotta hook? The kind for readers, not the pirate kind. Either way, Mary is impaling the topic on Wednesday.

Thursday holds an Alley First (!!) when we welcome Rachel Hauck, My Book Therapist and best-selling author. Rachel will be giving away a thousand word critique. Don't miss this post. At all!

You're ready for a critique partner. Now how in heck are you going to find one? Krista will be your hostess on Friday.

Alley News:

We will be welcoming our newest team member next week and spend a day letting her introduce herself to you. We think you'll like her. ;-)

Have a question for the Alley Cats? We have fun plans for your questions, so don't be shy! You can email them to: thewritersalleys(@)gmail(.)com

Photo credit

What was the best book you read in 2011?

What Makes a Scene Magical?

2012-01-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

For me, this usually involves a bit of suspense or romance. Gotta love a handsome hero, or a heroine being wooed by that handsome hero. But generally, a scene is made up of a few more basics. A list of elements you want to aim for to make your scene complete and useful to your story as a whole.

Just like your overall plot, scenes need to have a beginning, middle, and end. Here are some elements to incorporate into a scene.

Beginning Hook

Here's our chance to draw the reader into the story or scene with one simple line or paragraph.

Setting

This doesn't have to be extensive, but it's essential to each scene to develop a sense of time and place.

New Revelation, Character and Plot

This is done through revealing new aspects about a character or useful information that helps reveal the plot. As a rule, I try to include one of these (at least one revelation about a character or the plot) in each scene or chapter otherwise I have to evaluate whether or not the scene is necessary to the story as a whole.

Advance Plot

It's our goal as the writer to make our plots fluid and keep up a good sense of pace. Like above, we can do this by revealing information to the reader and make sure that each scene we use is to keep the plot moving for the reader.

Ending Hook

As with the beginning hook, the ending hook is our chance to make the reader want to turn the page and keep reading the next scene or chapter.

Sure, a magical scene has more depth than those basics above. There's dialogue and a good story and that something special that makes you fall in love with the character, but you can't create a full and useful scene without attending to the basic elements.

When you break your story down into scenes, are there specific elements you try to include to make sure that specific scene is useful to your story?

So Long, Farewell…

2012-01-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

I could start singing as I imitate Fraulein Maria in the scene where she’s swinging her luggage, then I could break out into a squeaky rendition of “I have confidence in me.” But I won’t.

No, I wouldn’t do that to you. Have you heard me sing?

But I am leading up to something. I am saying good-bye. It’s time to leave the Alley. Alley, not Abbey. I stopped referring to The Sound of Music way up there.

But now I’m going to refer to it again. I’ve loved the support I've felt at the Abbey, er, um, I mean Alley. I’ve enjoyed connecting with fellow authors here, but for the past few months I kept hearing a whisper. (It’s okay, no cause for alarm. We are writers; we can say this without needing to be carted off to the funny farm. Our characters “talk” to us all the time. Don’t yours? Bueller?)

Anyway, the nudge I continued to feel was that I need to let go of some commitments. Instead of Maria facing her fears as a governess, I need to face my fears and go this blogging road alone for now. However, I’m still deeply invested in moving thoughts on my blog.

So wish me well. I’ll miss writing here. And please, if you decide to follow my journey, no frogs on my chair. Those are not one of my favorite things.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu…to you all!

*photo from Flickr

How to Be a Better Blogger, Part 1

2012-01-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

For those of us who are serious on this writing journey, we've probably realized by now that a blog is important to our platform. But the blogging waters can be murky, and jumping into them even murkier.

Recently a blogging friend asked me some questions about my personal blog. (In addition to The Writers Alley, I blog over at my website.) And I realized that her questions were no different than mine when I first started out.

So today, I'm sharing a few things I've learned (sometimes the hard way) that have helped me build a stronger blogging platform.

1) Figure out the right pace for you. Whether it's once a week or five days a week, don't worry about what your fellow bloggers are doing. Understand your schedule and do what's reasonable. (Most blogging experts recommend a minimum of once a week.)

When I first started blogging, I jumped right in to five days a week. And learned very quickly it was too much. Before I landed my agent, I had scaled back to one day a week, listening to the advice of publishing professionals who say a fiction writer should focus on polishing their book more than their blog. In the current stage of my writing career, I've now gone up to three times a week and it works for me. But when circumstances demand it, I'll probably tweak again.

It doesn't matter if you have to tweak your schedule, as long as you communicate and stay consistent.

2) Don't be afraid to change your blog content over time. Study your site stats and figure out which posts are resonating with readers. And especially think about the topics that most fuel your passion.

Kristen Lamb, a social media expert for writers, says most writers should avoid blogging about writing. It's different advice than what we'd expect, isn't it? I found that once I freed myself from that trap, the blogging became fun. I now post about things I'm passionate about outside of writing, and it has drawn in dialogue with people other than fellow writers, which I love.

The more important thing here: Be yourself!

3) Provide something for your reader and initiate a conversation. People are selfish. They visit blogs to gain knowledge or to receive encouragement or to laugh. Figure out what you have to offer blog readers and then offer it. As you're consistent in that offering, you will also be building your brand.

4) Build relationships with other bloggers. This is the most time-consuming part, but the most worthwhile! Reach out to other blogging friends and comment on their blogs. Consistently. Cultivate these online relationships as genuine friendships because that's what they are!

I try to view blogging as I would an in-person friendship. If someone talks to me, I respond. If someone invites me to their house for dinner, I accept the invitation. Now I'll be the first to admit that I can't always visit everyone who ever visits my blog. I have two kids under the age of five who tend to usurp my time when I least expect it. But the key is to do your best and make an effort to reach out.

So let's talk...What stage of the blogging journey are you in? How do you handle your blogging schedule and content? Do you have any examples of friendships that have grown from your blogging journey?

*Blog photo by digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
**Dialogue photo by Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Scriptures to pray for writers...

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

Ephesus view from Bay

Lord, give me the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18). Allow my words to show others how wide, long, high and deep your love.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16). Father, help our fiction to point to your Word and demonstrate that Your Word is true. May we esteem your Word above all other words, not allowing writing to become an idol in our lives but only using our words for your glory to minister to others. Give our words clarity that others may see a true vision of you, so that we may see a true vision of you.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. (1 John 1:1). May our Words portray Him who was in the beginning as the origin of all our words, our entire being. As you enliven all our senses, I pray that what we hear, see, touch, and taste would be pleasing to you. As we endeavor to make our stories sing with multi-sensory descriptions I pray that we would allow all in our story's world to point to you, the Creator of earth.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27). Lord, I pray in our writing and in all our lives we would conduct ourselves in a manner worthy. I pray that we would act in love towards other writers and that we would stand firm in the faith. I pray that in our writing and our life we would not waver.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Julie Lessman has a wonderful list of Scriptures to pray for writers on her site: Julie Lessman From the Heart

Do you have favorite Scriptures you pray for your writing? Or share a favorite verse that encourages you in your writing in the comments....

Author Naomi Rawlings on Genesis

2012-01-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Naomi Rawlings during “contest season” last year. We both semi-finaled in the historical romance category of Genesis, and Naomi went on to finals! Along her journey she was quick to catch the eye of an agent and sign a publishing contract before ACFW conference in September. Her first book, Sanctuary for a Lady, comes out in April. I am excited to have the opportunity to get some great tips on Genesis from such a successful lady!

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

Naomi, thanks for stopping by the Alley! I loved reading your submission for the Genesis contest last year. And I am so excited to read it in “print”! Tell us a little more about your novel.

I don’t have an official copy of the blurb, but here’s an earlier version I was given. It should be pretty close to what appears on the back of the book.
Running to freedom, she found love . . .
The injured young woman that Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat, and in the midst of France’s bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.
Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke’s daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be . . .

Wow, sounds like a powerful story! So exciting to see more books coming out that are from different time periods and settings! So, most Genesis entrants have a tiny spark of hope that entering the contest will be a possible step towards their publishing dream. I am dying to know how entering Genesis and being a finalist, helped you along the path to publication?

Entering Genesis put my writing in front of some great judges. With my manuscript polished, my philosophy was to enter any competition where the finalist judges were editors or agents who I thought might be interested in my writing. That philosophy paid off, though not in the manner I was expecting with Genesis. A best-selling, popular author was one of my first round judges. She liked my opening so much that she sent my entry to her agent and then the judge told me to email her.
As you can imagine, I could hardly breathe when I got my judging sheet back. God worked everything out better than I ever expected, and I did end up signing with the agent, Natasha Kern. I also had an editor who judged a different competition request the first half of my ms. So Personally speaking, I did a lot better with entering contests than I ever did with querying or conferences, but some people do well with querying and others with networking at conferences. It works differently for different people.

What a great story of getting your stuff in front of an agent. Just one set of eyes is all it takes...and a really polished manuscript. We have a lot of readers out there that are preparing their entries for Genesis. How many revisions did you go through before you sent the entry to Genesis?

Oh goodness, a crazy, unbelievable amount. On the opening scene, probably about 15. My subsequent scene which was also included in my entry didn’t go through nearly that many revisions, maybe 4 or 5. I had a really hard time figuring out how to get the reader’s rooting for my heroine by the end of the second page and I went through endless revisions..
I looked, but I don’t have a copy of my original beginning (probably because it was so bad I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore). It went something like this, though I can’t be exact: “Isabelle Cerise de La Rouchecauld walked down the middle of the road, glancing at the forest and wondering if she should harbor in the trees’ thick branches.”
By the time I finished my revisions, I had an opening that I loved:
“Silence surrounded her, an eerie music more haunting than that of any chamber players. It soaked into her pores and chilled her blood.
Isabelle surveyed the shadowed trees of northern France, so different from the wide fields she’d grown up with in Burgandie. The woods lay still, most animals caught in winter’s slumber. Her breathing and the crunch of her shoes against the road formed the only human sounds amid acres of forest and earth and animals—or the only human sounds of which she knew.
She clutched her cloak and glanced behind her. Did someone follow?”
I wish I could say I came up with that the first time I sat down at my computer. But I didn’t. It took hours of hard work and banging my head against the computer screen until I found something that worked the way I wanted it to. And it works that way for most people. Occasionally a writer might sit down and come up with the perfect start to a story, but more often than not, a good beginning means hours of hard work. So if your slogging through your first 15 pages right now, don’t give up! I understand how hard it is, but the effort might well be worth the pain.

Great advice. I don't even think I can count the amount of times I've changed the beginning to my story...and I am sure I will still tweak it up until I hit send. What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare your submission?

Two things. First, have one or two awesome crit partners who don’t mind reading and rereading a chapter until you get it perfect. For every time I revised my opening, my poor crit partners, Melissa Jagears and Sally Chambers, reread it. They deserved to final just for putting up with me.
Second, I entered the ms in the Great Expectations RWA contest. Genesis was the second contest I ever entered, Great Expectations was the first. I would have never finaled in Genesis had I not gotten and applied the judges’ feedback from Great Expectations. In the draft I sent to Great Expectations, I had the heroine walking in the woods for seven or eight pages before the soldiers showed up and attacked her. Way too long!!! In the Genesis version, I had the soldiers show up on page three. But I never would have known to move the action up without getting the judging feedback from Great Expectations.
So before entering Genesis, I would advise contestants to get some professional advice on the manuscript. Whether it comes from a contest, a paid critique, or a published friend returning a favor, you’d do well to get some advice beyond your crit partners.

It's tough sometimes to take the criticism, but it pays off in the end!

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! I am looking forward to applying your advice to my own submissions. Can't wait to read the rest of your novel!

Thanks Angie, I enjoyed being here. This is my first ever blog interview, so I find the whole thing a little intimidating!

My pleasure! I am sure you have many readers who thank you for such great advice. Looking forward to reading more from you, Naomi!!
Visit Naomi at:

Website: www.naomirawlings.com

Blog: makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com
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What's Up The Street For Next Week?

2012-01-07T01:52:00.000-08:00

Photo credit

Sometimes the time comes to say goodbye. We have to expect it in a way, because it's the cyle of life. We either have to move on or priorities need to be rearranged.

And while we are sorry to make this announcement, we wish our fellow Alley Cat, Wendy the very best in her writing life. In the plans God has for her. Plans of good and not of harm to give her a hope and a future.

So, please leave a comment wishing Wendy well and know we will be watching for monumental success from you, Wendy!! ;-) She'll be back once in a while for a guest post, so we aren't completely losing her.

Wishing you the BEST, Wendy!

New year, new week on the Alley. What's up??

It's the contest season and Angie has guest Naomie Rawlings on the Genesis contest. Check back on Monday.

Prayer is an intricate part of the writing life. Julia brings this topic to the blog on Tuesday.

Sarah brings tips on how to be a better blogger on Wednesday.

Thursday will be Wendy's final post for the Writer's Alley.

Cindy explains how to make a scene truly magical, by breaking down specific elements on Friday.

Sidewalk Talk

You can keep up with Wendy on her blog: Thoughts that Move, Twitter and Facebook.

You can now email the gals at the Writer's Alley and hear back directly from one of us! (not that we think ourselves celebrities or anything...) AND if you have a question, do share at this email: thewritersalleys(@)gmail(.)com We have some fun surprises in store for the questions you send, so don't be shy. ;-)

Hang in with us, we're still the same blog and will be proactively looking to bring in a new face as God leads.

What now?

2012-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

You type "The end."

You sit back in your chair, close your eyes and take a deep, cleansing breath.

....
......
..........

You open your eyes back up. Everything on the screen is a little blurry. Your brain hurts from the tens of thousands of words you've just finished squeegee-ing out of it. You can barely remember your family member's names, or what day it is.

Now what?

Never fear... KRISTA'S TWELVE STEP PROGRAM is here!

1.) Push Save.

2.) Close your document.

3.) Run around the house, dancing with joy.

4.) Eat some celebratory chocolate

5.) Make you hubby (or wife, or parent, or significant other, or your own wallet) take you out to dinner.

6.) Tweet your fun news!

7.) Play on Facebook, catch up with what all your friends are up to while you've had your mind on your book and characters.

8.) Actually make your family dinner instead of the endless nights of frozen/takeout meals they've had.

9.) Sleep. A lot.

10.) Go to the store and stock up on chocolate and your choice of caffeine pleasure.

11.) After at least a week but up to a month, open your manuscript back up.

12.) EDIT. (And when you're done... lather, rinse, and repeat steps 1 through 12!)

Discussion: What do YOU do when you finish a novel? If you haven't reached this point... it's dream time!!

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and a contemporary romance author. She recognizes that life can be frustrating and just plain not fun sometimes, but believes that laughter and smiles can make the not-so-fun a little better! She blogs about the amazing things God has been doing and her journey as a busy momma of 4 and caregiver to a daughter with a rare congenital heart defect at http://reflectionsbykrista.blogspot.com. She is also a contributor at www.wordservewatercooler.com. She is represented by the fab agent, Rachelle Gardner, and her debut novel, Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, releases in September 2012.

A Contest Conundrum. Do I? Don't I??

2012-01-05T01:17:00.000-08:00

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How many of you are raring to go with the contest season basically jumping down our throats?

And how many of you are set to gag at the thought of entering one. more. contest.

With many and varied options available to writers for getting their work in front of a contest judge and hopefully that last round of editors and agents, it can be hard to determine whether to enter and which ONES to enter. Contest hopping isn't cheap.

So many writers live and die by the contests they enter. Knowing someday that golden contest is going to strike the clock right at midnight and the goose will lay the golden egg. The Midas contest touch. And while contests are wonderful to enter and glean from, if you do enter, you must enter with a level of understanding firmly in place.

I have entered only a handful of contests in my writing life, but within those handful I've had a wiiidddeee range of info returned.

One contest told me I needed to invest in writing books and I couldn't write my way out of wet paper bag (my words, not the judge's).

Another contest, I was one of six finalists.

Not in the same year.

But do you see how crazy the contest world is!?!? It's definitely not for the faint of heart. And some contests give great feedback, others just write a little number down on the line. And if the judge woke up with indigestion that morning, you might not get a good score.

Contests are subjective. Incredibly subjective.

I don't say this to say you shouldn't enter contests, however I don't think contests are the answer to all of a writer's prayers.

Critique partners.

Freelance editors.

Mentors.

Writing classes and books all can help improve your craft without the emotional headache. (most of the time. ;-)

When you do enter contests, consider several things. Who reads this entry? You won't know beginning level judges-- you will know final round judges. Always go into a contest assuming you WON'T final or win. It'll be easier (or more joyful!) when you do/don't. But do take into consideration who those final judges are and would they be beneficial to your writing?

Don't enter just any contest. Smaller contests tend to give more feedback...but you have to look at the cost and whether or not they are with a reputable group. Asking other writers of their experience with that group is a great place to start.

Do a bit of research into the contests. Don't just enter any contest that lands on your doorstep. You'll be exhausted and so will your wallet.

Don't let a bundle of negatives overwhelm or discourage you. Take this as a cue that your writing needs a bit more work, and be willing to make the necessary changes.

Photo Credit

Do have a discerning eye or ask someone else to give you unbiased feedback if a certain judges' comment doesn't make sense to you. Like my 0 on writing ability, it held a grain of salt, but ultimately I had to look to other contest results and trusted writing friends to tell me the *real* truth.

On a personal note, I happen to be entering the Genesis and Frasier contests this year. Both contests are respected and known for their ability to discern high quality writing. However, in this case: the Genesis generally does not give much feedback. The Frasier is geared to help writers grow. I've decided this year that my writing has reached a level where I want to know how I might do in the Genesis. I enter that one to see if I've grown in my writing. I enter the Frasier to learn.

You of course will have to make that decision for yourself and your writing. Hopefully these few does and don't's give you an idea of what to gear for.

Are you entering any contests this year?

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Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in rural Eastern Oregon in a town more densely populated with cows than people.

The Privileged Class

2012-01-04T02:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever driven with a new teen driver in the car? Oh my, they are quick to say: You didn't come to a full stop, you didn't use your turn signal, your hands aren't at 10 and 2!

And these aren't spoken, they're shouted.

Ah, yes, training in the hands of a newbie.

The writing journey has many newbie moments. As information/rules/guidelines are learned and opportunities to critique other's work grow, the writer is quick to see new "errors" in every written product from cereal boxes to famous published writers. Here is a slightly exaggerated sample :) :

Adverbs Thou shalt avoid all adverbs ,

No Gerunds allowed (those "ing" words),

Passive words Thou art a weak writer if even one passive word is used,

and a myriad of other "no-nos"

(Then again, all the good stuff gets missed
when looking from the newbie side of the road
toward what seems to be The Privileged Class)

Randy Ingermanson recently commented on this topic. He said:

"Since there are no actual 'rules,' in principle we could skip right over this idea. However, I won't, because it is hinting at a common but nonsensical notion that published authors are somehow a privileged class of people who don't have to write as well as other people.

"The fact is that published authors, as a class, are enormously better at the craft of writing than unpublished writers, as a class. Yes, there are some published authors who lack certain skills, and yes, there are some unpublished writers (generally those who are about to break in) who write extremely well. But looking at the average skill set for the two classes, they are well separated.

"The fact is that published authors who fail to improve their craft are damaging their careers. It's not about following or failing to follow some imaginary set of "rules." It's about writing well.

"The industry still prefers excellent writing to crap. Tragically, there is a very limited supply of truly excellent writing. There is a pretty good supply of good writing, which by definition is going to have some substandard parts. This should be good news.

"Be aware that your writing will never be perfect, even if you get published, and once you do get published, you'll be open to the usual sniping that comes at every published author. You'll survive this like everybody else does."

What can we do when we stretch our newbie wings after learning a new concept?

** Look for the qualities that can be learned from the book.

** Understand typos happen.

** Not everyone likes a certain story, this doesn't mean the book

wasn't written well.

** Some "errors" are not errors at all.

How about you? Chime in with kudos for published works

I'll start:.

This week, a client of mine had a book in her hand when she came to her meeting. She was a native, single, young mother. I instantly recognized the book: Lynn Austin's Hidden Places. The young mom said she picked the book out from a bin at her college because she liked the cover. The bookmark showed she had read more than the first pages, yet she chose that book to have with her while waiting in the lobby! To think, she will be reading an award winning Christian Fiction book. How cool is that?

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Quote used with permission
Randy Ingermanson
Publisher, Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com/blog

Image by: Freedigitalphotos.net

This blog post by Mary Vee.
Mary lives in Montana with her husband and loves to hear from her three college kids. She writes Christian young adult fiction (pirate tales, missionary and Bible adventure stories).

Her Tag: Stepping into Someone Else's World.

To learn more about Mary,
visit her blog: http://www.mimaryvee.blogspot.com