Four Myths Non-Writers Believe, by Iola Goulton

I’ve always been a reader. A bookworm, if you like. And like many readers, I also wanted to be a writer. Specifically, a novelist. I won two school writing competitions in high school and even went on a creative writing camp, but the endless essays of high school and university didn’t leave much time for personal reading or writing.

I started reading for pleasure again when I got a job, but not writing: I already spent enough hours a day in front of a computer, writing client reports and our company newsletter. I had one colleague whose wife was writing a novel. I asked how it was progressing: he said she was still in the research phase, which was going to take her a year. I asked a few more times but stopped asking when I got a look that said she wasn’t making much progress (or not making as much as her husband thought she ought to be making).

I had another colleague who announced one day that he’d finished his novel. I asked when it was going to be published. Yes, I really thought it was that easy.

When I started researching the craft of writing and the business of publishing, I soon realised that many of my assumptions were incorrect. In particular, there were four myths I believed about writing:

• Anyone can write a novel.

• Writing is a good way to earn some extra cash.

• Getting a novel published is easy.

• Writers write. The publisher does the rest.

Are you laughing yet? Or do some of my naïve ideas sound eerily familiar? I’ve since discovered my ideas were misguided. But I’ve also discovered there is an element of truth in some of them.

Anyone can write a novel.

This is both wrong and right. Anyone can type 80,000 words and call it a novel. Slapping a cover on it and uploading to Amazon isn’t hard (it can’t be, given the quality of some of the novels on Amazon).

But writing a good novel is hard, and not just ‘anyone’ can do it. It takes patience, perseverance, and practice. And most people don’t make it.

Writing is an easy way to earn some extra cash.

If you’re prepared to make money writing scam recipe books (using recipes copied from dodgy websites) or scam self-help books (using advice copied from wacko websites) or other scam books (using information copied from Wikipedia), then yes, writing can be an easy way to earn extra cash. Even better, hire someone on Fiverr to ghostwrite (or ghostcopy) the book for you.

But is that writing? It’s certainly not the writing dream so many people have. In reality, pursuing a career as a writer, especially a novelist, is going to cost you a lot of money before you earn anything from it. And most writers also have a day job to pay the bills.

Getting a novel published is easy. 

Check out your local bookstore. Check out the publishers of those novels. Getting your novel published by one of those publishers isn’t easy. It’s a long way from easy.

But the advent of vanity publishers and self-publishing make it easy to publish a novel. Any vanity press will take your money, tell you you’ve written the next great American (or Australian or British or Canadian or New Zealand) novel, and for another $10,000 they’ll be able to put your novel in front of influential Hollywood producers (and take a first-class holiday in some swanky resort).

But self-publishing platforms such as Amazon, DrafttoDigital, iBooks, Kobo and Smashwords do provide newbie authors with a way of getting their novels published and printed and on sale. And it’s not difficult. But authors soon find that writing and publishing was the easy part . . .

Writers write. The publisher does the rest.

This is the final myth, and is one that continues to drive new authors to traditional publishers. They don’t want to be involved in the publishing or the marketing. They want to write. Period. The problem with this myth is that all authors, no matter how they are published, all authors have to do more than write.

Even traditional publishers expect authors to contribute to their marketing efforts. At the very least, these will include a website (which the author pays for), social media profiles and regular updates (which the author undertakes herself, or pays someone else to manage), and attendance at certain industry events and conferences (which the author pays for). These efforts may or may not sell books.

Self-published authors have sole responsibility for marketing — there is no one else. They can just write, but then it’s likely no one will buy their books.

Myth or Truth?

Yes, there is an element of truth in each of these four myths. But more myth than truth. Oh, well. Back to the writing . .  .

Writers, what myths have you heard that you now know aren’t true?

Readers, what do you believe about writers that might not be true?

IOLA GOULTON lives with her husband, two teenagers and cat in the sunny Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, between Hobbiton and the Kiwifruit Capital of the World. She holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting and freelance editing, is active in her local church and plays in a brass band.

Iola is a reader, reviewer and freelance editor who is currently writing her first novel, contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist, and her first non-fiction book, which aims to help first-time authors navigate the changing world of Christian publishing.

Connect with Iola at www.iolagoulton.com (a work in progress she’s trying not to be overwhelmed by!) and www.christianreads.blogspot.com.

Stitching Up A Story, by Karen Rees

Being both a writer and a quilter I've discovered that piecing a quilt and writing a story have a lot in common. Take precision for example.

Any good quilter knows that precision is the key to getting all of those corners to come together perfectly. Not only precision when sewing pieces together, but precision from the beginning. I have to be precise in marking my pieces, cutting my pieces and then stitching them all together on the same side of that finely marked line.

Failure to be precise, even in small ways such as sometimes sewing on the wrong side of the line, will create blocks of different sizes and corners that don't come together as they should. The final result is a quilt that could have been better.

Precision is also necessary in piecing a story together. I have to select the word that best conveys the meaning I want. Carefully chosen words strengthen my writing and give it clarity. When I grab the first word that pops to mind, it's often not the best choice. I've discovered that I tend to write 'irritate' when I should use 'annoy'. (I make the same mistake when I talk.) What about the difference between brag and boast? In that scene does the character stroll, stride or amble? Does she drop her eyes or does she drop her gaze?

The blocks in my quilt, pictured above, appear to be two different patterns. In reality, all of the blocks are the same pattern – A Gentleman's Fancy. The apparent difference comes from my choice of colors. In some blocks I used light colors for a particular part, in other blocks I used dark colors. My choice of color and shade – light or dark – created the difference.

Writing is the same. The details that I give will create a particular impression in the mind of the reader.  When describing a park I could mention bird messes on benches and trash on the trails. Or I could describe colorful rose gardens and shady paths. The park may have both trash and flowers but the reader's impression will be formed by the details. Before I start writing, I need to decide what impression I want to give and then use the details that will create it.

This is equally true with my characters. Do I want readers to see someone as kind? Self-centered? Timid? Irresponsible? When introducing a character, what description or behavior will leave the desired impression with the reader?

A third similarity between creating quilts and creating stories has to do with the unexpected. I could have sewed every block in my quilt using red and some light color. But I didn't. Even when I used red in a block, I sometimes paired it with a dark color. Those particular blocks stand out like freckles on a blond. They add variety.

When developing characters, we can give them depth by adding something unexpected to their personalities. The hardened criminal who, now and again, treats some stranger's child to an ice cream cone. Why does he do that? Or the sweet elderly widow who has a history that would shock her neighbors.

Quilters say that it's not a quilt until it's quilted. In the same way a manuscript isn't a book until it's published. For a quilt to win at a quilt show and a book to earn honors, both need to contain our best work. Be precise, select the right details and create interesting characters. By doing that, you could end up with a winner.

Karen Rees and her second-generation missionary husband Benjamin have served in Hong Kong since 1975. Besides her involvement in the mission work, Karen loves history, quilting and writing. They have two children, Matthew and Megan, and two grandchildren, Hadessah and Arthur. She is the author of the award-winning historical novel, The Ruby Ring.

Finding Time to Write, by Renee-Ann Giggie

Do you ever get in a “I don’t feel like doing anything” mood? A time when even the things you feel most passionate about no longer appeal to you? In the busyness of life, we all need “Me-Time” to rejuvenate our energy and refill our creative well. But will we fit that special time into our routine, enough to see a difference? How?

Being a writer is a demanding job, just getting the material down on paper, and then every writer has various additional responsibilities to factor into his or her daily schedule, as well. You may be juggling motherhood, a full-or part-time job, or caring for elderly parents. You may have church duties or your own health issues. Don't forget, writers also have to market their books, research new material, and support their fellow writers. Is your head spinning yet?

When my boys were growing up, writing wasn’t a priority for me. I made the decision not to write, whether it was conscious or unconscious, because I didn't have the Me-Time needed to make it happen. My creative well was full for my boys, but my fiction writing came from a different well inside of me, and that one needed to be replenished.

Do you ever take time for YOU?

Do you take time away from your family? Away from priorities and responsibilities, to pen those ideas that have been dancing in your head all day but you were too busy to write them down? Or just to nap. The ideas will develop while you sleep. At some point the three large mounds of laundry will have to wait another day. Don't let them stare you down. If you're serious about writing, you'll find that half-hour to rejuvenate your creative self, your soul, and keep writing.

Is there anyone who can help you find an hour a day to yourself?

Having two grown-up/out-of-the-nest kids doesn't mean I’m less busy. I may be done with the task of raising two very active little boys, but I still have meals to prepare, laundry to do, a house to clean, a vegetable garden to maintain, as well as a rotation-shift/full-time job that takes me out of the house five days a week. I thank God daily, though. He’d blessed me with a wonderful husband who not only helps with the chores, but supports my writing, 200%.

Daily Me-Time is a vital part of every writer’s life. Whether you steal 15 minutes, half an hour, or an hour to take a walk, catnap, brainstorm, put fingers to the keyboard--it will make you the writer you want to be. Go ahead and try fitting yourself into your day!

A young mother shared how she wrote during her two 15-minute work breaks, half hour commute on the bus (each way), and one hour after the kids went to bed to pen more words to her manuscript, keeping her entire weekends for responsibilities and family time. Do the math. Two-and-a-half hours a day, five days a week. It adds up, and with this kind of dedication, she’s set to complete her manuscript.

Do you fit Me-Time into your schedule? How? When?

Renee-Ann’s desire to write began very early but remained a hobby until just a few years ago when she wrote her first novel, Stella’s Plea, (Nov. 2012). She’s a member of several writing groups and is no stranger to Christian writers’ conferences, where she thrives on learning, and then looks forward to the next conference. She and her husband live in New Brunswick, Canada. Her latest release is titled Emma's Prayer.

Blurb from Emma's Prayer:

A teen pregnancy. A couple desperate for a family. A baby awaiting adoption.

When the opportunity presents itself, will Emma Leigh Roberts take back what’s rightfully hers, or will she come to terms with the consequences of her decision?

When Cynthia Manning, a small town speech therapist, suffers another miscarriage, she and her husband Logan turn to adoption. They’re delighted when a baby boy is placed in their home. Is heartbreak inevitable?

Be still, by Iola Goulton

It's 2016, a new year, and over the last few weeks I've seen my social media news feeds full of people announcing their New Year's Resolutions (or plans. Or anti-resolutions.)

I've also seen many Christians announcing their word for the year. These words are typically encouraging, words like grace, peace, strong, challenge, balance, flourish. In fact, the “one word” movement is so popular it has its own website: www.myoneword.org. Their tagline: Change Your Life with Just One Word.

The My One Word movement comes from Pastor Mike Ashcraft, who uses the process in his church, both at an organizational and individual level. The idea is resolutions often centre on the negative: things we don’t like about ourselves, things we’d like to change. A long list of negatives that makes us feel bad about ourselves before we’ve even started. A long list that reduces our ability to focus.

In contrast, the My One Word challenge is about looking at who God wants us to become, and to pick one word on which to focus that positive change over the year.

My first thought in looking at the My One Word website was skepticism. I wasn’t convinced that one word can change a life. One person can: Jesus. But one word?

But then I got thinking . . .

Too many people have grown up with a wrong image of themselves, an image based on the words other people have used to describe them. Us. Words like stupid, fat, slow. Or twisting positive words so they come out sounding like a negative. Pretty. Intelligent. Sporty.

Sometimes we speak the negative words to ourselves. I’m too busy. I’m too sick. I’m too poor. I could never do that. Is that the truth? Or is it the lie we tell ourselves so we can avoid trying, avoid failing?

Words have power.

The words we think, the words we say, the words we write. The words we read. The words we hear.

Too many of us have spent our lives listening to the negative words from ourselves and others, allowing those negative words to rule in our lives. Instead, we should be listening to God. Some of us are simply too busy, too sick, too poor, to take time to listen to God.

Too busy is certainly one of my problems—when I first started thinking about this One Word idea, the word which came to me was overwhelmed. Hardly the stuff of inspiration.

But it made me step back, think about all I’d like to achieve this year, and how I’m going to do it. Feeling overwhelmed isn’t going to help. That’s the feeling that keeps me awake at night, wondering if I’ll be able to cram an extra few hours into the next day.

But then a verse popped into my mind. As they do.

Be still, and know that I am God (Ps 46:10, NIV)

Be still. Be still, and allow God to work in me, to plan for me, prepare the way ahead of me.

Be still.

It’s more aspirational than any list of resolutions I could have dreamed up. And more challenging. Yet there is a peace in the word that confirms God is in it.

Be still.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Do you have a word for 2016?

IOLA GOULTON lives with her husband, two teenagers and cat in the sunny Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, between Hobbiton and the Kiwifruit Capital of the World. She holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting and freelance editing, is active in her local church and plays in a brass band.

Iola is a reader, reviewer and freelance editor who is currently writing her first novel, contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist, and her first non-fiction book, which aims to help first-time authors navigate the changing world of Christian publishing.

Connect with Iola at www.iolagoulton.com (a work in progress she’s trying not to be overwhelmed by!) and www.christianreads.blogspot.com.

Writing God into Our Stories, by Jaël Roy

When we write, we spend time making every word count, meticulously checking our grammar, building character arcs, researching setting, and adding tension to every scene. We may even plan out how we are going to market our novel.

Comparatively speaking, how much time do we spend putting God into our stories?

As Christian authors, having spirituality in varying degrees in each story is a given. Christian characters that pray, go to church, and are familiar with key Bible passages are expected. A good Christian message is a must. Yet even with our attributions to Christianity might we unintentionally let our story and characters trump God’s?

Do we research, seeking to represent God as He has revealed Himself, or do we write based on what we’ve heard others say about Him? I grew up in a Christian home—both my dad and my mom’s dad were pastors. Plus, I’ve done a few years of Bible school that had mandatory daily chapel services. So I’ve heard a lot of sermons. A LOT. Their echoes follow me whenever I think of God. And they haunt the pages of Scripture as I read. The worst is when two or more of these ghosts debate how a certain passage should or could be interpreted. All that to say, our understanding of God’s Word can be influenced by the things we have heard—or the things we have read.

A writer has the same impact as a preacher to their audience.

When we listen to sermons, we pay attention not only to the words spoken, but also to the implications of what is said. We try to understand it and to apply the message to our experiences past and present. We also learn from what is left unsaid. The same is true for our readers. What we say, what we imply, how we represent God, even what we refrain from saying, tells the reader what we really think of God, and tells them what we believe they should come to realize about Him.

Is God a character in our novels?  Do we give Him the role of prop? Backstage director? Producer?

I’m not saying that God needs a direct speaking role in every novel. Though as I’m reading through Jeremiah I am struck by how much He verbally interacts with His prophet. But we must keep in mind that we are His ambassadors. We are truth-teachers.  We are held more accountable. James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

The “fiction” part of our writing should never apply to God.

His thoughts, ideals, actions, and essence need to be clear throughout any novel, whether it be biblical historical, fantasy, or romantic suspense. We must put a touch of the hidden reality behind our “realistic” novels, include His actions in our thrilling tales, show His ideal of love in our romances, and stay anchored to a portrayal of the One True God, even as we write fantasy.

Do we leave room for God to speak though our novels?

When we write, our message should be one of God’s choosing. Often it may be a message from God to us. Other times a message from Him to others. Many times both. But it shouldn’t flow from the culture around us. Even the Christian culture. Like an ever-flowing waterfall, our message should pour from God’s Word, over our hearts, and into His world.

"Using humor and romance to reach the mind and touch the heart.”

JAËL ROY has recently discovered her love of writing. After years of reading novels, especially romance novels, and wishing the authors had written them a little differently or wanting to add sequels, Jaël realized she could tweak a story any way she wanted—if she wrote it herself. So one morning she picked up her laptop and wrote “The Bridesmaid's Escort,” about a professional escort given the task of accompanying a reluctant bridesmaid who sees more in him than he wants her to. Since finishing that first manuscript, she has written six others and is working on an eighth.

Jaël appreciates a well-written story. She enjoys making readers laugh and giving them the opportunity to think deeply about their Christianity. For her, writing stories is an outlet as she contemplates issues that touch her heart.

jay_bin1984@outlook.com 

http://jaybin1984.wordpress.com  (Book Reviews) 

More Than Words by David Rawlings

I’ve now been on this writing journey for one-and-a-half manuscripts.

What I’ve learned is more than the process and principles. I’ve discovered that writing is more than words. I need to play different roles to ensure those words earn their place. Yes, I’m responsible for putting them on the page – and I do that – but I am challenged to do more than simply put fingers on keys or pen strokes on page.

I’ve realized I need to be more than a writer. I need to be . . .

1. A fire starter

I love this part of the writing process, where the spark of an idea flares in the corner of the mind. This spark holds so much promise and opportunity and for one moment in time it could be anything; perhaps the best idea that’s ever been had.

That spark needs to be fanned into flame so it flares into life. Sometimes that idea is a story. Sometimes it’s a character trait. Sometimes it’s exploring a character’s backstory and finding an idea that then gives them true depth. For me, it was asking a simple question of a main character – “as a Pastor, why are you so down on yourself?” – and finding a fiancée who had left him at the altar.

2. A production line worker

In my younger days, I held several production line jobs as a way to earn enough money to pay for that all-important first car. I’ve stood in the same spot for eight hours at a time in the dirt and the grime and cranked out widget after widget in a repetitive, mind-numbing dance.

I’ve had those days as a writer, where I know it’s not flowing from the creative force I thought would be on tap. But I’ve pushed on in that repetitive dance, focusing on getting a character from Point A to Point B so I’ve got something to work with when I edit. Which leads me to . . .

3. A rose bush pruner

My grandfather taught me a valuable gardening lesson that has stayed with me to this day. I would cautiously approach a spreading, sprawling rose bush with a tiny pair of secateurs and give it what my grandfather would call “a short-back-and-sides.” I didn’t want to cut too hard. The rose bush looked too good and had put so much energy into producing a spray of leaves and color. It seemed a shame.

But my grandfather knew that growth had to go because it was the best thing for it. He would wade in with enormous skill and knowledge – and a fairly handy-sized chainsaw – and decimate the plant, cutting it back far enough to allow room for the rosebush to grow into the space he had created. Next season, the rose was bigger than before, better looking and somehow stronger, even though it had lost 90% of what it was.

I now edit my manuscript with my grandfather’s eye and a metaphorical chainsaw. Words that, at the time of writing, felt like brilliant prose has been cut away to give the real story room to grow. I’ve cut about 20,000 words and the story is a trimmer, leaner piece of work that tells a richer story. Those words are then mulched and they feed the story as it grows.

4. A protective parent

I joined a critique group, where I’ve had the chance to float my writing past people, seeking their feedback. This isn’t really new to me - I’ve been a copywriter for 25 years, where almost every day of my career has involved criticism of something I’ve written.

The experience is different this time, however; it’s my fiction under the spotlight. Now I’m a protective parent where I can see my child’s potential like no one else. I know how good it will be if it’s given the chance to flourish. While I do need to protect my child and filter the criticism (to incorporate every single comment or change would not help its development), there are times in which it’s obvious I can’t see what needs to be seen because I’m too close; too protective.

5. A loyal friend (albeit imaginary)

Developing characters has been more enjoyable than I ever imagined. Sure, these characters live in my head, but to me they’re real. (I’m only telling you this, because I know you’ll understand. Anyone else would hear it and bring in a therapist.)

My characters aren’t real, of course, but they have real hopes, dreams, and disappointments (they have to if they’re going to be compelling.) I have felt genuine relief when they have survived a trial. I’ve felt their pain when they’ve plunged further into a hole of their own making. And I celebrate with them when they reach their goal or find their destiny.

I’m learning at each step of the journey that writing is more than words and writers are more than typists. I am becoming more than a writer. Are you?

Based in Adelaide, South Australia, David Rawlings is a father-of-three with his own copywriting business who reads everything within an arm’s reach.

He is published in the non-fiction arena and is now focused on writing contemporary Christian fiction. These stories explore God, people, 21st century church and our modern society with humor and a satirical eye. And, in order to have more time to write, he is currently trying to find an extra day in the week . . . without much success.

Four Ways I Bring the Setting Alive in I ALWAYS CRY AT WEDDINGS ~ Print Giveaway

Early in my writing, I attended Sewanee Writers' Conference in Tennessee and heard an author's setting be described as another character in the story, that's how well-developed, how alive the location felt. I knew I would have to rise to that challenge. To write a New York City story without a spotlight on the city would be like presenting an under-baked cake at a wedding and watching it collapse from within.

So I thought about how the setting could interplay with my protagonist Ava and move the plot forward at the same time. I didn't want to devote paragraphs to describing the city just for the sake of adding description. That would slow Ava's journey down. I wanted the city to breathe life into the story, naturally, unobtrusively, and set the plot line ablaze with its unstoppable energy.

How exactly did I bring the setting alive? Here are four strategies I used, with examples:

NYC represents Ava's dreams and ambitions:

Your setting can symbolize your protagonist’s goals. Ava, a small-town girl with drive and tenacity, wants to make her life in Manhattan. It appears she has when the novel opens at City Hall. She attends a civil ceremony with her fiancee as witnesses, and the contrast between their friends' impromptu exchange of personal vows and her extravagant long-planned wedding is striking. But instead of anticipating her big moment, just a month away, Ava finally sees what's missing: sincerity . . . real love. Slowly, her life goals start to change, and it's hinted at in the setting.  

On the second floor of City Hall, they found a room marked by a piece of paper that read, Marriage Licenses. The manila-painted room with crooked rows of chairs had the ambiance of an under-funded public school classroom. An old chalkboard stood forsaken at the rear. It was like being a student again, but in the wrong class.

NYC reflects/enhances Ava's emotions:

There are many scenes throughout I Always Cry at Weddings where the setting reflects Ava's feelings. The intention is to enhance the emotional pull throughout the story and to make it feel natural by weaving it into Ava's surroundings. Below are examples from three different scenes. You should have a sense of how Ava is feeling after reading each one.

1. She watched as the cab drove away. On sunny days, the leafy trees lining the sidewalk played shadow games in the flowerbeds below. But not today. Her street, masked in fog, told a different story, maybe the real one, of want and neglect. But this was her life, and there was nowhere else to go.

2. Down a narrow and winding path, where a small cove nestled a pond, they stopped to watch a family of ducks nudge the Lily pads. (Central Park)

3. Ava threw her phone down on the table. She tugged the kitchen window open, stuck her head outside and screamed, “No more at least!!!!!” She shouted at her neighbors, over the rooftops, to the pigeons taking flight. “I’m sick of settling!!!!!!”

The radio across the way was silent. Cars stopped honking. No sirens to cause alarm. The city listened . . . and would hold her to that moment.

NYC embodies the times in which Ava lives and the culture that might effect her decisions:

When Ava stumbles in the way of temptation, I want it to feel realistic to the point of adding suspense. Here's a night out for Ava. She's not into drinking alcohol, and can't afford it, but she's hoping to connect with a guy she had just started dating and to meet new friends. The wild ambiance of the nightclub as Ava enters makes you worry for her, and it sets her apart from the scene, despite her attempts to fit in.

Two stops on the R train and she found Julian’s downtown hangout. The steel door seemed impenetrable, except for music spilling over onto the street. A bouncer opened the door for her. Inside, a band played on a dark stage at the back of a long candlelit lounge. Large, garish paintings hung on rough walls. They looked like abstracts, until enlarged body parts revealed themselves: feet, hands, buttocks, thighs, some parts more recognizable than others.

NYC changes with Ava:

Your setting can play a role in your protagonist's arc. As Ava redefines herself, she notices changes in the city, as well, some changes whisking her along, and others leaving her behind.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the cool façade of her building. Would it be so horrible to fall asleep right here? Several distant explosions sounded in the direction of New Jersey. She opened her eyes as a cascade of colored stars lit up a corner of the sky. Here was life turned upside-down. Oddly enough, a clearer perspective.

In Conclusion:

The plot you build needs a foundation. Whether you use "setting as character" or as a backdrop to your story, work it into the action, the dialogue, and into moments of reflection, and make it count.

I Always Cry at Weddings ends with a sunset wedding. Ava, a guest, is on the terrace enjoying the wide view of Manhattan with the man she finally hopes to marry, one day. The final scene closes out on love and the city:

Couples on the terrace held each other, entranced and content, as if they were conduits between the city lights below and the stars above. Maybe the real purpose of love was to channel kindness, generosity, and acceptance from Heaven to the human race.

Book Giveaway:

I’m offering a printed copy of I Always Cry at Weddings to one randomly chosen commenter, worldwide.  To be entered in the Giveaway, please include your email within your comment, for example: saragoff(at)saragoff(dot)com.

Sara Goff recently moved to Connecticut with her husband of 14 years and their two sons after living in Sweden and then London for six-and-a-half years. I Always Cry at Weddings, her debut novel about figuring out life and finding love in New York City, was released September 15th by WhiteFire Publishing. A part of the proceeds from the book will go towards her educational charity Lift the Lid, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Visit www.lift-the-lid.org for more information on the charity.





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The Consummate Traitor: A Long Journey With a Purpose, by Bonnie Toews

The idea for my novel THE CONSUMMATE TRAITOR began when I read the biography of William Stephenson – INTREPID, CHURCHILL’S MASTER SPY – by the Canadian author William Stevenson. In it, he wrote about an agent code-named Trudi, who was a cousin of King George VI. She volunteered to persuade the atomic physicist Niels Bohr, who was working on atomic bomb experiments in Copenhagen, to defect to London. The Danish Resistance did succeed in helping him escape to England but “Trudi” was arrested by the Gestapo, interrogated and tortured. No one knows what happened to her. She was declared missing in action and presumed dead. Reading this, I wondered. “What if she survived? What would her story be?” The only possibility was to create another woman to replace her on the mission.

First, I needed to create a believable royal lineage and hope I didn’t pinpoint her actual connection. To do this, I studied the pedigrees of the British, Danish and Norwegian royal families. The result: Lady Grace Radcliffe. Then I needed to create her counterpart – a woman who could look like her, but be opposite in nature and upbringing. The result: Lee Talbot. Only through their friendship, do they become more like each other as time goes on. With these names and broad character traits, I then started detailed research on their back stories, the men in their lives, and how they would fit into a plot I loosely based on the real “Trudi” mission.

Research in the 1980s was not as easy as it is today. I spent months in the Toronto Main Library photocopying sections of historic books and maps. I read the diaries of Basques who endured the bombing of Guernica. I read William Shirer’s journals about Germany through the 1930s, and Churchill’s memoirs, as well. The more I read, the more the Holocaust haunted me. One day I broke down and wept because I could hear their silent screams.

I interviewed a former Nazi aeronautical engineer who sat on Hitler’s inner circle as a designer of Germany’s first jets. He described Berlin and the effect Kristallnacht had on him in 1938. To trace all the backgrounds and invent the details necessary to build the story for THE CONSUMMATE TRAITOR took me ten years before I was ready to start writing my novel. The writing of the novel took another ten years plus two revisions that evolved over the next eight years. As wartime records were released new information surfaced, and I had to change portions of the book because I wanted the details to be as authentic as possible. The traitor’s story, for instance, evolved in greater detail. Britain’s civilian spy agency – SOE – recruited so many homosexuals that this led to the later British scandal of double Soviet agents, such as Anthony Blunt, a confidante of Queen Elizabeth II.

When I was nearly two-thirds finished, two things happened. Both times I awoke at 3 a.m. The first revelation identified the traitor – I believe not knowing kept driving me to write, but then I had to go back through the story and drop hints so the reader wouldn’t be as shocked as I was! The second burst of inspiration led me to write a chapter I have always believed came directly from God. It shows the spiritual charge working in the characters. It was never a part of my outline, and yet it absolutely belongs in the story. I never rewrote it, and I’m convinced it’s the reason why writing this story has always felt like a mission I had to complete. Curiously, no reviewer or reader has ever commented on that chapter. If it was God’s purpose to include it, the reason is entirely His.

Rather than reveal that special chapter, I feel guided to leave it as the private message it seems to be for individual readers.

Award-winning business journalist Bonnie Toews covered the delivery of aid to Rwanda following the genocide in 1994 and observed first-hand why Harry Belafonte, then ambassador for UNICEF, called Canada’s peacekeepers “the best in the world.” Today, Bonnie lends her voice to the Canadian Veterans Advocacy on her Homecoming Vets blog. Her novel THE CONSUMMATE TRAITOR is in its second edition with Whistler House Publishing.

Bonnie has also embarked with her life partner John Christiansen on producing the BIBI &  BABU TRAVEL SERIES. These books are armchair adventures that adults or grandparents can enjoy reading and sharing with their children. Ten percent of the series’ royalties goes to the Kilimanjaro Orphanage Centre in Moshi, Tanzania.

I Am a Writer, by Jebraun Clifford

"And what do you do?" he asks me. Not in an accusing tone but with sincere interest. I'm working at one of my myriad paid and unpaid jobs and I quickly think of all the hats I've worn in the past and the many I wear today. Wife. Mother. Homemaker. These are the responsibilities closest to my heart. Pastor. Teacher. Friend. Ditto. Sister? Difficult as I live 10,000 kilometres from my siblings. Student? Not for a long time, unless you count a student of life.

Sometimes I work at a picture framing and art supply business and that's where I am today. I help an artist pick out an easel and we talk about various mediums. He likes acrylic and I (very infrequently) dabble in watercolour.

"But what do you really do?" he asks.

And for the first time ever, I announce my newly reclaimed identity. "I am a writer."

"Really? Well, good on you. The world needs more of that, doesn't it?" His eyes crinkle as I slide the easel into the carry-case and take his bank card. He doesn't even ask me if I've published anything (I haven't yet) but accepts my declaration without question, smiling as he leaves, no doubt busy with plans of his own on what to paint first on his new piece of art equipment.

And me? I'm buzzing at what I could be. What I do. What I am.

I've made up stories in my head from the time I was a little girl. I used to beg to write skits instead of reports at school and am thankful for one particular teacher who let me write and perform dramatisations. Often I roped in various classmates for these dramas, one of which was a three act play about Jacques Cartier and his exploration of Canada, complete with the unoriginal though applause-worthy line, "Hey! Jacques back!" as a catch phrase. I kept a journal all through junior high (oh, the agony!) and high school (oh, the angst!) and even through university when my hand was constantly cramped from the excessive note-taking in my English Lit and Cultural Anthropology lectures.

And then I took some time off. Oh, willingly enough. I don't regret at all the twenty years spent writing grocery lists and to-do lists and birthday cards. I'm happy my creativity was channeled into good meals, nappy changing, and crafty ways to turn a few boards and some bricks into a bookcase. This was before the days of Pinterest and, trust me, some pictures and video tutorials might've made all the difference between a snazzy looking masterpiece and the Leaning Tower of Piza we ended up with.

So instead of a shelf full of published novels, I have three amazing children who are my "living" epistles as L.M. Montgomery's indomitable heroine, Anne Blythe née Shirley, called her own children. Maybe I could've written and looked after my babies at the same time but when I was knee-deep in said nappy changes, I found it tricky to keep the dust bunnies at bay let alone imagine character developments and story arcs.

But now it's time to slowly turn my attention back to a passion I've kept under wraps for so long. I've still got two at home but they're older teens now and don't need me to keep them physically alive twenty-four seven. And I've got a husband who doesn't seem to mind the occasional - all right, weekly - breakfast for dinner. Seriously, aren't bacon and scrambled eggs the best? He's even taken over all the washing, for goodness sake, and our clothes have never been more promptly washed, dried, and folded.

So I'm stretching my mind, squeezing in as much writing time as I can manage, cracking open the old thesaurus again though it's on an app now instead of in a huge, hardbound book. And I'm excited to see where it will lead.

Eric Liddell, an Olympic athlete and missionary once said, "God made me with a purpose but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

I know that writing is not my ultimate purpose. I was meant to live and move and have my being in Him but I believe He gave me this gift of wanting to - needing to - tell stories. And when I write, I feel His pleasure. So I'm going to keep on writing.

After all, I am a writer.

How about you? When did you first know you were a writer?

Growing up, I always wanted to walk through a door to an imaginary world so it’s no surprise I now call New Zealand home. Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a hobbit, I live in the centre of Middle Earth where the Preacher and I planted a church over a decade ago. I love tree ferns, dark chocolate, British spelling (except for tyres...that one still looks weird!) and Jesus. When inspiration strikes, I blog at www.jebraunclifford.wordpress.com

Journaling is Good for the Author's Heart, Soul, and Writing by Wendy L. Macdonald

A vintage shabby-chic trunk in our cozy den holds a menagerie of my fabric-covered and spiral-bound journals. Thirty-two years' worth of words lay poured onto the private pages of these notebooks. How has journaling been helpful for this author’s heart, soul, and writing?

Journaling sharpens an author’s ability to shape stories and characters. Although I’m new to writing full-length fiction manuscripts, I’ve had much experience dreaming up plot lines without even realizing it. Eighteen months ago my dear husband suggested I start a novel. He said this shaking his head in response to my vivacious imagination.

There are many examples of my exuberant mind written within the pages of my journals, such as the time I stopped my family from eating baked goods that had been given to us because I wondered about the numerous sudden deaths that had occurred in the giver’s social sphere. (I’ve sworn my family to secrecy about this crazy moment of mine.) But that incident helped shape one of my first manuscript’s characters. And I suspect other antagonists will be birthed from incidents saved within my journal.

Journaling improves deep point-of-view writing skills. A diary won’t do. A journal is for recording our inner thoughts and feelings about what has transpired rather than simply documenting events. Pathos, fear, joy, and passion are a few especially helpful emotions to take advantage of. And it’s this depth of articulation that most benefits our fiction work. How can we write effectively about our protagonist’s strengths and weaknesses if we’re not in conscious contact with our own?

Journaling helps us tap into the inner-motivations of our characters. There’s nothing new under the writer’s quill because we all share the same universal issues (love, family, faith, birth, death, and everything in between). Authors generally use the same proven story structure, yet they must still strive to create unique character arcs with one-of-a-kind plots.

The experience of keeping a journal can give our fiction writing a sharper edge when we mine treasures from our characters’ thoughts (as well as from our own). If we can write a story that pulls others into a realistic world shared from the deep recesses of the protagonist’s heart and mind, the reader won’t want to put the book down. There’s something about intimacy that draws us in, much like a campfire does. Entering one’s own thoughts into a journal makes us more self-aware and potentially more observant of our fictional characters’ desires, secrets, and vulnerabilities. And that makes for good writing.

Journaling alleviates stress through the writing pilgrimage. Recording our prayer requests, our praises, and our personal progress keeps us honest and motivated with our current manuscripts and self-care. The stress-reducing effects of journaling kick in when we write poignantly. From what I’ve been reading it’s not just a newbie, like me, who gets overwhelmed and discouraged in this ever-changing literary landscape. Authors, we know and admire, have had to rethink their strategies, too.

Journaling gives the author permission to leave their concerns within their private pages, go forth, and share their stories. Write. Read. Edit. Query (or Self-Publish). Submit. Repeat. We can trust God to answer our written requests according to his perfect timing while we’re busy doing our part as writers.

Journaling IS good for the author’s heart, soul, and writing! How has it helped you?

Wendy L. Macdonald has lived in British Columbia, Canada all her life. She postponed her writing aspirations for a decade while homeschooling her three children. Last year she dove into writing with only her experience of blogging and a love of reading to keep her afloat in the ever-changing sea of the publishing world. She has completed two mystery/romance novels and hopes to try memoir writing in the near future. Her website is http://greenlightlady.wordpress.com where she shares inspirational poetry, prose, and nature photography.

People Say the Darnedest Things (When They Find Out You're a Writer) by David Rawlings

I’m fairly new to this writing caper, but I’m also not . . .

I have been writing for 35 out of my 44 years. The first phase was as a young writer with enthusiasm and time, where stories sometimes snuck in at the top of my homework. After that I was – and continue to be – a copywriter, working for 20 years crafting sentences for businesses, governments and not-for-profits to bring in cash, votes and more cash, in that order. Importantly, the copywriting enables me to put food on my family’s table, while still writing fiction.

I've had a novel unhappily simmering on the back-burner for many years. Fiction writing was always on the sideline for me; something I’d get to one day. I may have had the enthusiasm of the 10-year-old me (that folder dedicated to story lines of future books is proof of that), but it just wasn’t a focus. So this year I’ve decided to knuckle down and go back to writing from my heart and soul – and what I believe is my calling.

But now that I identify myself as a writer, I’ve found people say the darnedest things, and now that I’m concentrating more on developing my craft, I’m realizing just how far from the truth some of those comments are. Here are just a few:

“I’m going to write a book one day.”

This one has truly amazes me. Since I’ve told people I’m concentrating on my novel, I’ve heard every second person tell me they’ll write a book one day.

Apparently everyone has a book inside them and the only thing that is stopping them is the time to write it. I have found it hard not to think that this devalues the skills and talents of writers and storytellers. I don’t think the only thing stopping me from having a musical career as the next Jimi Hendrix is that I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

As a voracious reader, I’ve read some wonderful works which have left me speechless at how gifted the particular writer is. I’ve also read other novels that have trashed this myth by about page 10. So while everyone might have a novel inside of them, the real key – and true gift – is not just having a story inside of you, it’s having the patience, talent and determination to bring it out effectively. I truly respect that gift.

Maybe a novel is like an appendix. Everyone has one inside of them, but bringing it out successfully requires a certain passion few people have. Everyone else just talks about doing it.

“You’re so lucky you get to write in cafes on your laptop while you drink a lot of coffee."

Ah, Hollywood, the greatest purveyor of myths. I’ve had an endless stream of people ask me how much time I spend writing in cafés while I entertain my muse, which must be caffeine.

I wish this myth were true; I’d buy that café and make a fortune, enabling me to write more fiction. To me, cafes are too noisy. It’s hard to immerse yourself in your story and have a heart-to-heart with your characters while you’ve got a constant hum floating from nearby tables across your thinking.

I’m learning that the best place for me to write is where it's quiet. I’ve found it enables me to think, but more importantly, to listen: to God, to my characters, to my heart.

“Wow, you’re going to be rich, like JK Rowling.”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this, I’d probably be earning Harry Potter-type money. I’ve learned that the only person earning JK Rowling-type money is JK Rowling. I talked to our local Writers Centre, and they know of three people who are making a living from fiction writing – and they’ve got a membership in the hundreds. I’ve published two non-fiction books (one about surviving infertility and a second on social media), and it’s amazing just how many people think because I’ve published a few books it must mean I’m loaded.

But that’s not why I write. One thing I’m learning as I embrace my writing is not to get lost in the hope of the money myth – not to expect that once my book is complete, it will be on a rocket ship to #1 on a best seller list. If anything, unraveling this myth is helping me to understand that the joy of writing can be the journey more than the destination.

So I’m still learning and being challenged to think about WHY I love writing . . . and evaluating it through the filter of how people perceive this craft. Debunking some of the false perceptions has helped me to appreciate writing for what it is, an expression of myself and a learning process.

So what about you? Have you heard some of these myths before, or what other fallacies have you heard when you bring up your passion for writing?

Based in Adelaide, South Australia, David Rawlings is a father-of-three with his own copywriting business who reads everything within an arm’s reach.

He is published in the non-fiction arena and is now focused on writing contemporary Christian fiction. These stories explore God, people, 21st century church and our modern society with humor and a satirical eye. And, in order to have more time to write, he is currently trying to find an extra day in the week . . . without much success.

Seeing Through Different Eyes, by Karen Rees

A few months ago a British transport minister on a trade visit to Taipei made the headlines in this part of Asia because of a diplomatic blunder. She presented the mayor with a pocket watch. She didn't know that giving a timepiece is taboo in Chinese culture. Because of the similar pronunciation of “giving a clock” and “attending an old person's funeral”, her gift suggested that the mayor's time was running out.



During the years that my husband and I worked with a Chinese church here in Hong Kong, we learned of another similar taboo. Never take flowers to someone in the hospital; flowers are associated with funerals.

Later we began working with household servants imported from the Philippines. We discovered that Filipinos point with their lips, hospitality is high priority while punctuality is not, and wives handle the family money. If they manage it badly, it brings shame on their husbands.

Our current part-time involvement with a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker family from a Hindu background has exposed us to the habits and values of yet another culture.

These three cultures are different in many ways. But, all being Asian, they share a basic value: the rights of the family take priority over the rights of the individual. This value is seen in a tradition of arranged marriages that benefit the family, in the expectation that money earned by one is available to all and in the requirement that individuals put the wishes/needs of the family before their own.

This “family first” value is in direct conflict with the “individual first” culture of the West.

As writers we know that conflict drives the story. We usually create conflict by giving our characters, all of whom have likely Western values, different backgrounds, personalities and desires. Consider the additional conflict possibilities if one or more characters came from a culture with different values.

Countries, and couples, have gone to war because of clashing cultural values. It's not uncommon for a Western husband and a Filipina wife to do battle over how to spend the household money. He, being an individualistic Westerner, wants it all used for themselves and any children they may have. She, with her “family ­first” values, insists that they send money to her extended family in the Philippines.

Cultural differences can add interest, and conflict, to international contemporary novels. Recognizing cultural differences also helps when writing historical fiction.

As I researched Tudor England for my novel THE RUBY RING, I discovered that the Middle Ages shared the same 'family first' value as 20th century Asia.  Choosing a spouse in the 1500s or, more likely, having one chosen for you, was primarily a business matter, not a matter of the heart.

Because of this, the couple in my novel who wishes to marry for love faces much greater family opposition than they would have in today's individualistic Western, 'all we need is love' culture.  Since they also are caught up in England's religious turmoil, I had enough conflict to keep many readers up well past bedtime.

But to maintain a feel of authentic Tudor England, I had to allow my characters to deal with the conflicts in a manner suitable to that culture. I had to see life through their eyes.

Returning to the present day and the Chinese view of clocks and flowers, how's this for a contemporary romantic thriller?

After graduating from a Western university, a courageous young Chinese female reporter begins working in China only to receive death threats for her honest reporting of government and business corruption. She flees to the relative safety of Hong Kong. There she meets a handsome young Western businessman. After a whirlwind romance, they become engaged.

At their engagement party they receive an anonymous gift – a beautiful clock. He is pleased. She is fearful. Are her enemies still after her? A few days later she is injured in a freak accident and spends a few days in the hospital. Her fiancé brings her flowers.

Her previous apprehensions abruptly intensify as a new and terrifying possibility arises. Is her fiancé merely a thoughtful but culturally ignorant Westerner? Or is he actually in the pay of the corrupt Chinese businessmen who, through the clock and flowers, are telling her that she can't escape them?

It all depends on which cultural eyes you're using.

Karen Rees and her second-generation missionary husband Benjamin have served in Hong Kong since 1975. Besides her involvement in the mission work, Karen loves history, quilting and writing. They have two children, Matthew and Megan, and two grandchildren, Hadessah and Arthur. She is the author of the historical novel, The Ruby Ring.

Caring for Fictional Characters by Janet Sketchley

As readers, the characters we love best are those we can relate to, but we need a connection with each one of them. Not that we'll love the characters we're supposed to fear or find irritating, but if something in them resonates with us, we'll accept them as real.

If writers don't bond with their created people, readers definitely won't. I struggled with this in my first novel, Heaven's Prey. How to find a point of contact with a serial killer, so readers would want to see him redeemed – and not throw the book across the room in anger when it happened?

In that case the answer came in exploring the man's past, meeting him when he was a regular Tom, Dick or Harry (bad joke: his name's Harry). Seeing the hurts that led to such horrible choices. Seeing his good side. That didn't make him good, but it made him redeemable.

It's just as important to invest in our ordinary characters, the ones who aren't in-your-face offensive or worse. I had to get into the heroine Ruth's head and live with her through her experiences. Let her react in ways true to herself, not in ways I wanted for purposes of the plot. It made for lots of rewrites before she felt real to me.

When I started work on the next novel, Secrets and Lies, I was more intentional about creating emotional links with the heroine Carol. She had begun as a peripheral character from Heaven's Prey: mom died young, dad abusive, raised by repressive aunt, teen pregnancy, loser husband, miscarriage, husband died, preteen son died of overdose... oh, and her only brother's a dangerous offender.

Plenty to work with story ­wise, but I match exactly zero of those descriptions. How would I relate? It turns out we both have control issues, and we both spend too much time living in our own heads.

I didn't know that in the beginning, so I gave Carol a few things I like: she's fond of tea, chocolate and baking, and music helps her de-­stress. I picked a favourite singer for her: Billy Joel. It was a fairly random choice; I liked some of his songs, and knew he had a large body of work. If she's listening to music all the time, it better not be the same three songs.

I also gave her something I'd like to acquire. She's a very good housekeeper. It comes back to control: if she can't keep order in the rest of her life, she can at least run her home.

These minor details helped me get close enough to discover our shared emotions and attitudes. What did I add to her life? As well as those conscious choices about tea, food and music, I helped her find her way into a relationship with the God whose heart we can trust to pick us up when we're broken.

What did she add to mine? Sadly, not the housekeeping. But I find myself drinking more peppermint tea (her favourite), and I listen to a lot more Billy Joel now.

What about you? Can you point to fictional characters who've taught you a life lesson, given an insight, or from whom you've picked up a trait or an attitude?

Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Prey and Secrets and Lies, two novels of suspense and redemption. She also blogs about faith and books. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies, Janet loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, she isn't related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true!






You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join Janet's writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

Website: http://janetsketchley.ca/

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How do you define an exotic setting? (plus gift card giveaway)

By Narelle Atkins

Last week I read Marion Ueckermann’s debut contemporary romance novella, Helsinki Sunrise, set on an island near Helsinki in Finland. A great read, and you can check out my book recommendation here. One thing that struck me as I read Marion’s novella was the authenticity of the Finnish culture and setting that flavored the story. I consider Finland an exotic setting, and a place I’d love to visit. I live in Australia and many of our American readers consider Australia an exotic setting. A country they dream of visiting in real life, and enjoy reading about in books.

North Curl Curl Beach in Sydney, Australia.

I belong to a Goodreads group with my Heartsong author friends and we have regular author Q and A chats with our reader friends. Our discussions have been an educational experience for me, as an Aussie, and I’m learning a lot about North America from our conversations. North America is an exotic setting from my perspective, and I love hearing reader friends talk about life in different parts of the world.

My conclusion is an exotic setting is like beauty, and very much in the eye of the beholder. We all have different ideas on which locations we consider exotic, often depending on our heritage and life experiences. I have a Friday Weekend Escape travel feature on my blog. Many of my guests showcase their home towns in locations I’d define as exotic.

I love travelling and reading fiction books set in different parts of the world. I was recently browsing our blog backlist titles page and 2013-2015 Releases page, which categorizes our book releases by country.

Through my reading I could travel to exotic locations outside Australia including: 

• Africa with Lisa Harris and LeAnne Hardy 
• historic India with Christine Lindsay 
• China with Kathi Macias 
• Japan with Jennifer Rogers Spinola 
• England with Donna Fletcher Crow 
• historic Scotland with Eva Maria Hamilton 
• Ireland with Grace Bridges 
• historic Siberia with Janice L. Dick 
• UK, USA and Australia with Ian Acheson 
• North America with Sandra Orchard, Valerie Comer, Jenn Kelly and Lisa Harris.

Closer to home I can read Christian fiction books set in Australia by Aussie authors including Mary Hawkins, Jo-Anne Berthelsen, Rita Galieh, Paula Vince and Dale Harcombe.

I can travel to other worlds and read sci-fi books by P.A Baines and Grace Bridges or fantasy by Valerie Comer.

Which settings do you consider exotic? Is there a particular exotic location or setting you enjoy reading, or would like to read? 

Leave a comment on this post with the name of a book you'd like to read that's set in an exotic location, and I’ll put your name in the drawing. One lucky reader will win a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card that they can use to buy the books on their wish list. Don’t forget to include your email address with your comment. Good luck and happy reading!

  

NARELLE ATKINS writes contemporary inspirational romance and lives in Canberra, Australia. She sold her debut novel, set in Australia, to Harlequin's Love Inspired Heartsong Presents line in a 6-book contract. Her debut book, Falling for the Farmer, was a February 2014 release, followed by The Nurse's Perfect Match in May 2014, The Doctor's Return in August 2014, Her Tycoon Hero in November 2014, and Winning Over the Heiress in February 2015.

Narelle blogs regularly with Australasian Christian Writers and Inspy Romance. http://australasianchristianwriters.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.inspyromance.com/ 

She is also a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA).

http://acrba.blogspot.com/ 

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

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