Writing and Reading When the Living Ain't Easy

“Summer time and the living is easy…”

How's your summer time going? Is life carefree, a perpetual vacation?

I’ve noticed among my social media acquaintances a growing number of please-pray requests, coming in fast and strong. Because life for them has hit more snags than they're used to.

Last month, I wrote about writing in a time of discontent. Based on the needs of friends—as well as those in my own family—I don’t think the storms of discontent have morphed into perpetual sunshine and calm. Instead, I think the clouds are growing anvil heads and their undersides are darkening.

I wonder what it felt like in Europe between the two world wars when leaders were claiming all was right, all was well. A few heard the worrisome words, the drums signaling a different truth. I’m probably not alone in imagining that we’re in a similar situation in the world today. All is not right on so many levels, and yet we must continue to live and try to thrive—and to help our fellow men to thrive.

As writers and readers, how do we do that?

What is your calling as a writer? Is it to entertain and help readers rise above their worries, to help them focus on possibility instead of any pain they may be experiencing? Is it to call them to arms? To call them to prayer? To point readers in one direction or another?

Once you know your goal, how do you achieve it?

And if you’re a reader instead of a writer, what draws you? A fantasy to help take your mind off the issues at hand? A romance to help you believe in happy-ever-after? A story of hope? A story of loss? A tale of true grit or a hopeful parable?

I may have mentioned that I’m working—have been working, will be working (the process feels interminable, especially after I divided the manuscript into two books)—on my third (and fourth) Beaufort book. As I write, I can’t escape the feeling that this story needs to offer a little more, a little something for the times in which we live. Hope, yes, but what else?

I’m listening again to an audiobook by Charles Martin. Thunder and Rain digs into tough subjects, does it well, and does it without preaching. Martin’s stories (I’ve read them all at least once) compel me to thought, to an examination of my own motives as a writer and as a person. I can’t pay a higher compliment than that. Many authors write good stories. Readers (most of them) seem to think mine are good. But what about that extra something, that thing Charles Martin and a few others have achieved?

We’ve always needed the more such stories provide, but I think in times such as this, we may not even be aware of our need for books that take us deeper into the true and the rare, books that touch the heart and compel us, perhaps unconsciously, to wonder about goodness and faith.

What about you? Do you agree? Disagree? Let’s talk.

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Writing When the Living Ain't Easy

Normandie studied sculpture in Italy before receiving a BA, summa cum laude with special honors in English. Her women’s fiction has garnered numerous awards across the country, including a recent final in the Maggie (Heavy Weather): Becalmed (2013), Sailing out of Darkness (2013), and Heavy Weather(2015). Her first romantic suspense, Two from Isaac’s House, released in November 2015 and was a Romantic Times Top Pick. From Fire into Fire is her fifth book. A lifelong sailor, she and her husband spent a number of years on board their 50-foot ketch, Sea Venture, in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. 

www.normandiefischer.com

https://www.facebook.com/NormandieFischer/

@WritingOnBoard

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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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Tenacity

by DiAnn Mills

How vested are you in your writing goals?

Some writers view their work as a hobby. If it works and they sell, great. If the market rejects their writing, no problem. Nothing’s vested for them. They can always try something new.

Some writers are afraid to grasp onto their dreams. They are commonly referred to as closet-writers. If they fail, they haven’t lost anything. Or have they?

Other writers are doggedly determined to make it. Doesn’t matter how long it takes to learn the craft. Doesn’t matter how many rejections. Doesn’t matter how many rewrites. Doesn’t matter the intricate nuances of marketing and promotion. They are persistent. Just try to tell them they don’t have what it takes to succeed, and their tenacity raises another notch. Those are my kind of writers. Because I’m one of them.

I believe the cost of doing everything to reach writing goals far outweighs the cost of doing nothing. Failure is not an option.

Below is a acronym for tenacity. Take a look. Can you incorporate these tips into your writing life?

T is for Thick Skin. A writer needs Rhino Skin to survive the publishing world. We must learn the craft, a continuing process. We toughen up to accept constructive criticism and move forward to write

Do you have Rhino Skin when you receive a critique?

a quality story that honors God and entertains the reader.  

E is for Entertain. Whether plot driven or character driven, story’s foremost purpose is to entertain the reader with unforgettable characters and a unique plot. Stretch yourself to create a memorable experience.

N is for Never Give Up. When a critique points out flaws and weaknesses in our manuscript; or when a friend or family member believes you’re wasting your time; or when an agent or editor rejects a manuscript; it’s easy to walk away. But a successful writer never gives up. I treasure Winston Churchill’s statement, “Never, never, never give up.” I also value his quote, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” In fact, that is how we writers often feel when we’re struggling with our stories.

A is for Active. An active writer understands her career is not spent behind a desk. She  becomes involved in a writer’s group and attends writer conferences. Networking within the industry is necessary for professional contacts and friendships. An active writer keeps her body in shape. An unhealthy body means an unhealthy mind, and that means creativity crashes.

C is for Characters. Characters are the lifeblood of a novel. Their roles live in the hearts of our readers. We have a responsibility to fully develop our characters physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Characters reveal themselves in every aspect of our novels, so the reader never forgets them. 

I is for Inspire. One of our goals is to inspire readers to grow and change, and become better people. We accomplish this by showing a character who walked through fire and survived. We want readers to be inspired by our stories and discover ways for them to live triumphantly

T is for Truth. Story is a vehicle to show truth. It’s revealed in our premise and theme, surfacing in our protagonists attitudes and motivation. God may not be mentioned in our novels, but His truth reigns in characterization and plot.

Y is for You. Each writer has been given a gift. The writer can choose to ignore it, play with it, give it back, or develop the gift into a beautiful story. I can’t do it for you. It’s your seed to nurture and grow.

Success starts with you!

Tenacity. What does it mean to you? Can you grip it firmly and never let go? I believe you can. A professional writer works hard and weaves determination into every word.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She currently has more than fifty-five books published.

Her titles have appared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, Faith, Hope & Love, 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.

Website: www.diannmills.com

www.diannmills.com
 www.facebook.com/diannmills
 twitter.com/diannmills

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