A Story Written Just For One

by Marcia Lee Laycock, @MarciaLaycock

An interviewer once asked Mother Theresa why she gave her time and energy, indeed her whole life, in the face of the millions in need. The misery was so pervasive, the interviewer purported, how could she possibly hope to change it? I found it fascinating that, at first, the tiny woman did not understand the question. Her focus was so fixed on the dignity of each human being that even if she could help only one, she believed it was worth giving her whole life. I believe that is the focus of Christ. He says it himself in the story of the lost sheep - the shepherd leaves those who are safe to rescue the one that is lost.

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Recalculating

by +AneMulligan @AneMulligan

Have y’all see the Jeep Compass commercial about recalculating? The voiceover says things like “Go straight to a steady job.” The girl looks up at the building and turns. The voiceover says, “Recalculating.” Another voiceover announces, “Stay single till you’re thirty-four.” Then we see a male hand holding out an engagement ring, and the voice over exclaims, “Recalculating.”

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Strong Openings to Overcome Reader Impatience

By Jennifer Slattery, @Jenslattery

Reader patience. If my personal reading habits are any indication, it's getting thinner and thinner. The more books that pile on my bedside table and fill my Kindle, the less time I’ll give each one to grab me.

In other words, if the opening pages don’t compel me to turn the page, chances are I won’t.

I hate to admit it. I am part of the grab-me-or-lose-me generation. Part of the very generation I bemoan. But we’re here to say, if not increase, so perhaps my inner writer should learn some things from my inner reader.

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Writing Lessons

By day, Liz Johnson works as a marketing manager, and she makes time to write late at night. Liz is the author of nine novels—including her latest, The Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Dreams, book 1)—and a New York Times bestselling novella. She makes her home in Nashville, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters. Connect with her at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com or www.Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks.

Writing Lessons

I was standing in line for coffee (well, in line with others in line for coffee—I prefer the near milkshake version) at a writers conference several years ago. The woman behind me was also alone and also wearing a nametag identifying her as part of the same conference. Feeling a little more extroverted than usual, I asked, "What do you write?"

I expected a quippy response—the kind of single-line identifier writers spend years perfecting. What I got instead was a tirade on the ills of Christian publishing and the narrow-mindedness of some editors not interested in books about missionaries in Africa.

After five full minutes, she harrumphed. "I just don't understand why God would call me to write this book, when no one seems to be interested."

I thought that probably translated into, "I had a couple painful editor appointments,” but I didn't say as much. Instead I gently—I hope I was gentle, anyway—suggested that perhaps God had called her to write the book so He could teach her something new.

To which she snapped, "I've already learned the lessons I wrote about in my book."

Thank goodness it was then my turn to order. Double that whip cream, please.

I wonder about that exchange every now and then. It was years ago, and I probably wouldn't recognize the woman again if she introduced herself. But I think about what I really meant to say, and if I'm listening to my own advice. You see, I think God uses the very process of writing and editing and pitching books to teach us amazing things. Even on the surface level, I've learned some incredible lessons, like perseverance pays off, flexibility is important, and big computer screens can hide bad hair days.

But there’s more to this whole putting thoughts to paper thing. Here are three lessons God has taught me through the course of writing my books.

1. My worth isn't in sales or how many books have my name on the cover.

Who I am is not how many people recognize me on the street (none, by the way) or what conference I'm asked (or not asked) to speak at. Doing the hard work of writing a book isn't about making a name for myself or being told I'm a wonderful writer (although that's nice to hear every now and then). Because in the darkness (I write best at night) it's just me and my computer and God. That time alone is 95% of my writing life. And in that time, when the enemy whispers lies into my ear (like I’ll never amount to anything or I’m not worthy), I cling to the reminder that my worth is wrapped up in one thing. I am a child of God. And I do what I do because it's the call He's given me. I’m called to use my talents and not bury them in the ground. The process of writing reminds me whose I am and whose voice I heed.

2. God's good gifts don't always come in the form of five-star reviews.

Matthew 7 talks about how God is a good Father, who wants to give His children good gifts. It’s easy to think that those gifts always come wrapped in red ribbons and blazing with stars. But sometimes the sweetest gifts come in a spurt of writing or an unexpected inspiration. My favorite of his gifts are epiphanies that fill in gaping plot holes I couldn’t fill on my own.

The passage I mentioned in Matthew follows the familiar “ask and it shall be given to you” line. I’ve discovered a joy in asking God for help and waiting to see how He’ll show up. Sometimes it’s through a kind word from a reader. Other times it’s in a brainstorming session with a fellow writer. And then there are the times when it’s a meal made by a friend who knows I’m on deadline and just need real food. When my eyes are open to them, I see His gifts everywhere.

3. I don't have to fear rejection.

Writers know the acute pain of dismissal better than most. We wrack up rejection letters with a butterfly net and wear them like a badge of honor. But that doesn’t mean they stop stinging. We pitch to our dream editors and agents, hold our breaths, and let out loud sighs when we hear back. “It’s not right for me.” “Your manuscript isn’t quite ready.” “It doesn’t fit into the market right now.” Or a reviewer plants a one-star review on your work, their words harsh and overly critical.

Industry experts tell us these aren’t personal rejections, but how could they not feel that way when we’ve poured our hearts into these stories? They hurt. Even after the 12^th and 25^th and 99^th. (And they don’t hurt any less after you’ve published a book or six.)  What I’ve come to learn is that a rejection may burn, but it’s not lethal. It may leave a bruise, but it’ll heal. And in the midst of that pain, I continue to turn to one truth. God has promised never to leave me or forsake me. No matter what pain this life brings, His love is everlasting. I don’t have to fear rejection because He’ll never reject me.

Join the conversation. What have you learned through the process of writing, editing, and pitching your work?

The Red Door Inn

Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle's Victorian B and B--and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn't expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they've got—and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams.

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The Big Idea of Your Novel

by Allen Arnold 

 

There’s a classic story, probably mostly true, of how a monster movie screenplay was pitched to Hollywood studios.

In 1975, Jaws had become one of the first true pop-culture summer blockbusters movies. Imagine shortly after that you are trying to get the green light for your screenplay about a monster in space. No one in Hollywood is exactly standing in line for this story. It’s up to you to create interest in it. But you know you’ll only have a few minutes at most with the major studio heads. What can you possibly say that will cause them to pay attention?

The folks tasked with this came up with a brilliant pitch for the screenplay.

They positioned it as “Jaws in Space”.

That’s it. Three words.

And that’s all it took to hook a powerful studio. The line was so catchy and yet so simple. And the rest is history.

Alien became not just a blockbuster movie but a decades-spanning franchise. It even has an equally powerful positioning line for the movie poster: “In space, no one can hear you scream”.  

Both lines – one for internal Hollywood decision makers and one for the people buying movie tickets – are visceral and unforgettable. They draw you in. Leave you wanting more.

Can you describe your novel in a few powerful words? Not a few paragraphs –a few words. A sentence at most. You need to because that’s the attention span of most people. Anything beyond that and most people won’t remember. They have too many other things competing for space in their brain – including what they are going to eat for dinner, when to pick up the kids and whether they have clean clothes to wear tomorrow.

You need a phrase that causes your target audience to smile, gasp or lean in closer. The goal isn’t to tell them your whole story. It is to cause them to want more so they will buy and read your story. That’s it. Accomplish that and you are on the way to growing your tribe of readers.

When done right, the catch phrase or positioning line captures the concentrated power of the primary concept that makes your story unique. It is what will draw both agent and publisher to your proposal. It is what will turn the potential reader’s head and then keep the pages turning. It is what will fuel buzz in the marketplace.

To be sure, there’s an art to crafting the right succinct phrase. Some credit Blaise Pascal for saying, "I'm sorry I wrote you such a long letter; I didn't have time to write a short one." It’s true, saying more with fewer words is hard work. That’s okay. Do the hard work.

Start with the central premise that makes your story unique. If you find yourself hitting a brick wall when trying to come up with this positioning line, the problem may lie within the story itself. Perhaps the story doesn’t yet have a truly unique premise or twist. If that’s the case, spend more time on story development and then craft the positioning line.

The goal of a great line is to leave people wanting more. It must be intriguing, unexpected, compelling, playful, or disruptive.

The more generic the line is, the more forgettable it will be.

The more detailed and wordy, the more folks will glaze over. That’s why great positioning lines rarely include character names – because names aren’t the big idea or original concept.

The more obvious a line is – the less compelling. A great line for a romance novel is never “Will she find true love?” Because, um, the answer is apparent. Asking a self-answering question as the tagline only highlights how predictable the story is.

Now it’s your turn. What is the hook for your current book?

Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing - overseeing  the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But that doesn't really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series "Once Upon a Time" and is passionate about helping storytellers tell better stories from an awakened heart. 

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Quirky Sources to Make Your Story a Winner by DiAnn Mills

Quirky Sources to Make Your Story a Winner

DiAnn Mills

I live and breathe story—most writers do. And we’re always looking for ways to ensure our characters and their predicaments are exciting and unique. Some of the places we look can be a bit . . . different. But the exploration is worth it.

Here are a few areas that I’ve delved into to add idiosyncrasies to character, plot, dialogue, setting, emotion, body language, and symbolism. You might find your next plot twist there too.


Zoo
Who doesn’t love a devoted dog, cat, or horse? Those animals are typical. What about a character who has a snake, parrot, iguana, or potbelly pig for a pet? Tour your zoo. Take pics. A few of the animals might resemble your character.

Ok, so you got the tall genes. Big deal.

Habits
Observe what is going on the next time you’re at a hair or nail salon. Women can have some crazy habits regarding their hair, fingers, and toes, everything from color to style. What about a woman at a hardware store searching for nails or plumbing supplies? Study those people at a family reunion. Who resembles whom and what mannerisms make them distinct?



 

Mall Walkers
I used to think the only mall walkers were of the seasoned citizen variety, but not so. I see women pushing strollers and men joining them. Some of the walkers window-shop, sip coffee, chat on the phone, make sure they don’t work up a sweat, and (my personal favorite) pump their arms and legs as though heading for the Olympic gold.

Water Park
Preferably in the summer because the writer will want to participate in the fun.

Scream if you're a girl!

This is another place to snap a ton of pics. Who zooms down a water slide? Who’s the man who doesn’t want to get wet? Who’s there to show off his/her body? Who could care less how he/she looks—those enthusiasts are there just to have fun.

 

Grocery Store
Everyone needs to buy food, and most of us develop habits that stick throughout life. Does your character smell the pineapple? Squeeze a head of lettuce? Always buy two of each kind of fruit. Only selects organic products? Despise vegetables and replace them with green apples? What about your character’s choice of candy—from gummy worms to dark chocolate? Does your character save the dairy and bakery department until last, or does the ice cream always melt by the time she gets to the checkout line?

Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
I admit my characters drink coffee. Usually black. But what about a tea drinker? What brand? Sugar or cream? Use a tea bag or steep the leaves? Visit a shop that carries tea and check out the buyers. You’ll find all sizes and ages. What if your character is a milk drinker? Whole milk or two percent? Your character could despise coffee, tea, is lactose intolerant and drinks only lemonade.

Workout Facility
Sometimes this can be compared to a zoo. Need I say more?

I can think so much better in this position.

Distinct details about our stories are everywhere. Leave the movie stars in Hollywood and go for real people in real situations. You never know what you might find.





DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. 

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

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The Unavoidable Truth of Fiction

The Unavoidable Truth of Fiction
by DiAnn Mills

Novelists understand fiction is truth. Story enters our minds with a moral or spiritual premise. Sometimes characters enter our brainstorming stage first with their uniqueness, strengths, weaknesses, challenges, flaws, and a specific goal. Other times a plot sails into our minds and we search for specific characters to learn and grow from the trials ahead.

In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.
Walter Cronkite

No matter how the planning stage begins or evolves, truth is king. Without it, we fail miserably in the arena of entertainment. What reader wants a hero or heroine to sink into the pits of tragedy and never rise again? Good overcomes evil—always. The hero or heroine will sacrifice much, but their efforts will be rewarded.

Truth defined is a belief system that an individual holds as a fact or a state of reality. In the world’s culture, that is determined by a personal evaluation of a set of circumstances. Writing from a Christian worldview means God’s Word is our go-to source for our values and priorities.

What does that mean for the fiction writer? It means we create story that triumphs in God’s good overcoming His definition of evil. It’s subtle, so we can reach the unbeliever with a solid, enjoyable story without pounding Scripture into the reader’s head. We do this by having a character show his or her beliefs instead of declaring them.

How is this accomplished?


1. Cursing is an often debatable technique to reveal authenticity. But haven’t we all heard foul language? Why not write: he cursed or she swore?

2. Graphic violence, which means violence for the sake of showing the degradation of the human mind. I write suspense, and I include brutality. But I refrain from glorifying the worst of behavior.

3. Sex is a part of human nature. But I’m not interested in viewing it on the written page. We can’t deny our emotions, but we can react and respond according to God’s principles.

4. Show how a character is a multilevel and fascinating individual. Convince the reader that the character solves problems according to today’s culture of from a Christian worldview.

Fiction is truth. We use a principle that indicates how our story will twist and turn and eventually honor our faith. For the believer, he/she gets it. For the unbeliever, he/she may be inspired to seek out why the character was different.

Go writers! Truth reigns!

Story - Truth in Action

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

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Famous Last Words

by Cynthia Ruchti

Two recent news items caught my attention this week. No, not that. Not that one either. I heard about a woman whose cancer returned with a vengeance and is creating video moments to share her heart and key life lessons with her young daughters if the current protocol of treatment is unsuccessful. I also heard about a very well-known music artist whose only hope for retaining her voice and singing career is to go silent for however long it takes for her vocal cords to heal.

In both cases, the concern is that their voices will be silenced.

Our message can't be completely silenced, even if our voice is stilled. It lives on in the things and people we loved. It keeps speaking through what we preserve, what we cherish, how we lived, what we wrote.

Most writers have considered--at least for a moment--the question, "What if this is the last book I'll ever write? Have I said enough? Have I said it well enough? Is this a story that makes a difference?"

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Keeping Promises to Your Readers by DiAnn Mills

Keeping Promises to Your Readers

DiAnn Mills

We writers get carried away in our stories. We’re so focused on building memorable characters and scenes with goals, problems, conflicts, and high stakes that we sometimes forget to keep our promises to readers.

Pro writers keep their promises!

At the end of the book, the reader is left scratching her head. What happened to Susie’s ill grandfather? Did Johnnie ever find the missing puppy? Did Mark and Joanna make up after their huge argument?

I’ve slipped and left my story hanging, just like you have done. Fortunately it was an editor who caught the problem and not a reader who was disappointed when her magic carpet tipped.

This is a no-no!

Writers make promises, and our readers expect them to be addressed no matter how small. They look like this:

I will find out who robbed the bank and make an arrest. Nothing’s made mention of the robbery again.

The 5K will happen in three months. I want to compete in it, so I’ll have to train. No mention of the character ever training.

Someday we’d like to have a child. No mention of this desire again. Is the character’s problem infertility?

When our car is paid for, we might look for a home to purchase. The key word is “might.” How does it pertain to the story? Does it need to be tied up before the last page?

5. Matt had a performance review in one week to get a raise. We never learn if Matt received
a raise.


I devised a method to ensure my story promises were fulfilled. It’s easy and it works. All it takes is a little time.

Pinky promise to the reader

Prepare a spreadsheet with columns that are labeled:

Scene Number
Page Number
POV Character
Promise Made
Scene and Page Number of Promise Kept.

As the writer completes each scene either in the draft stage or editing, she fills in the information. The result is no loose ends. Your story is ready to send readers on a magic carpet ride that doesn’t tip.


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure.



Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

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Whose Name Do You Write Under?

While publisher for one of the world’s largest Christian Fiction divisions, my policy was to not acquire books from authors writing under pen names. We heard countless reasons why doing so could be beneficial or even strategic. Yet we walked away from every one of those proposals.

For me, it came down to this question. How can a writer approach a story with total authenticity and transparency while simultaneously hiding his or her identity? If nothing else, the reader deserves to know whose mind they are spending 300 pages with. The same goes for ghostwriting. If a celebrity or known brand-name author requires significant help to get the book written, that person should be listed as the book’s co-author. To admit you required outside help by adding another writer’s name to the front cover can be humbling, but it is also being truthful about how the book was born.

Thankfully, most authors write under their name.

God makes it clear throughout Scripture that names have immense power. The right name makes all the difference in the world. That’s why, for instance, Christians pray under the name of Jesus.

Closing our prayers with the phrase “In Jesus name” is far more than a quaint sentiment. Doing so invokes the covering, power and authority that only the name of Jesus can bring.

That is why we pray under his name.

And it is why we should also write under his name.

Doing so is an intentional act that invites and involves him in every part of the creative process. It is writing with him – which is radically different from merely writing about or for him. More than simply asking him to bless our writing, it is asking him to fully engage with us in the creative process as we commit to fully engaging with him.

The transformation begins when we pursue our gifting not primarily as a means to an end but as a means to know him better. It is taking your gifting back to the Giver because you long to experience it with him.

It’s mind-blowing. You get to experience the act of creating with God. The most creative being in the universe gives you the gift of words and then invites you to ask him questions, dream of new worlds and ideas, and laugh or weep with him over a scene the two of you wrote together.

The God of Story wants to father you in the art of story. He knows more about words, imagination and writing than every great author put together. In fact, he’s the one who first imagined those authors and then knit them together (created them) in their mother’s womb. He did the same with you. That’s why you are drawn to writing...and why he drew you to this blog post. To remind you that he stands ready to join you on the playground of ideas.

When you go to write, may you crave his presence more than technique, acclaim, productivity, or a book contract. May writing time without God’s presence be so unfulfilling that you simply stop and wait for him. The goal isn’t just to write because you are a writer or to hit some predetermined word count. People do that all the time without God. As Bill Johnson says – if you can write your story without God, then it is too small.

You have a far larger and more intimate calling – to experience his presence and pleasure as you write stories together. May you do so under the power, blessing and creativity of his name. 

Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing - overseeing  the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But that doesn't really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series "Once Upon a Time" and is passionate about helping storytellers tell better stories from an awakened heart. 

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