Calling All Teen Writers

If you're under 25 years old and want to have a ton of fun with your writing, Stephanie Morrill at Go Teen Writers is running a contest this year. Every other week you get a writing prompt to get you started and can submit up to 100 words. The judges rotate with each round of competition. Yours truly will be judging this round, and I'm looking forward to reading your submissions.

Complete rules here -

This week's prompt here. I'm so excited that I will be judging for Valentine's week. Hurry on over and get writing.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Hope your day is filled with all the things you love!

Top Ten Reasons I Love the ACFW Conference

This is the week I anticipate all year - the annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. This year it's in Indianapolis, so soon I will be In-di-an-a Bound! What's so special about this conference? I'm glad you asked. Here are ten things I love about it, and I'm sure if I tried I could think of ten more, but with bags to pack and materials to gather, this is what I've come up with.

1. Seeing different cities: Usually it's held somewhere in the middle of America, and so far I've been fortunate to attend ACFW in Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, and now Indianapolis. The two ending with  "polis" are cities I've never been to - states I've never seen.

2. The buzz in the air when you first step into the lobby of the hotel. It's readily apparent that ACFW has taken over and not a year has gone by that I didn't recognize a noted author or a dear friend. Which leads to the next item on the list . . .

3. Hugs. Whoops of joy at seeing friends from previous years. I often only see these friends once a year and it's sweet bliss to be together again. Hugs. Smiles. Friends.

4. Classes. Continuing sessions. Late night chats. There is no comparison to the variety and quality of the workshops that are offered. Something for every level of writer. For every genre. I've yet to attend a conference without coming away with my head spinning from all the new knowledge and ideas that I want to bring to my writing. This year I'm looking forward to James Scott Bell's early bird session, the multi-session teaching of Dr. Dennis Hensley of Taylor University, the keynote speeches of Tim Downs, and numerous workshops on craft and the business of writing.

5. Worship. One of the unique things about this conference is that each day begins with a devotion and time of worship. This year 600 will gather to lift their voices and prayers to heaven. And it feels a bit like heaven to be in the midst of the 600.

6. Prayer. A prayer room is open at all times for private prayer or to have someone pray with you. Prayer happens spontaneously, too - in the hallways waiting for appointments, in the restroom where you find someone crying, around the meal tables when a seat mate says, "Say a prayer for me, okay?" I love this part of the conference. I've had people pray with me and for me as I have done for others. What a privilege.

7. Pitching and networking opportunities. Often this part of the conference is the most stress-inducing - talking to an editor or an agent about your book or your ideas. Fortunately, the editors and agents are human and very gracious. I've met with several in the past, and while they may or may not have requested my work, they are now acquaintances who I trust and am always happy to see. A conference is by far the best place to start networking with the folks who hold your writing future in their hands.

8. Coffee. My life is not complete without coffee, and thankfully, most conferences I've been to have great coffee. And there's nothing like sitting with a friend, sipping a cuppa, and sharing your heart.
 
9. Socializing. Yes, there's still time for that. One evening is left open for people to get together on their own. Pizza parties. Publishers get-togethers. There's a chocolate party that's always a hit. And there's always a lively group in the lobby after hours.

10. Awards banquet. It's not a conference if people aren't recognized for their hard work. And ACFW does it up grand with a lovely dinner and an Oscar-worthy list of finalists. Lots of glitz and glam, winners, shoulda-been winners, and the lovely MC of the evening, Brandilyn Collins. I'll be cheering for many friends and colleagues this year.

So there you have it - the top ten reasons I love the ACFW conference. I'll be putting the blog on automatic posting for the next few days with lists of the finalists in the various categories. And, of course, I'll be back next week with pictures!

Oops! Almost forgot. Number 11. This is the first year I'll have a book to sign - can't wait for that! Also, I have a small gift for the first five people who come to my table to get my autograph. Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30.

See you next week!

Help for Aspiring Writers at The Ruff Draft

John Williams, a newspaper columnist, reporter, author and teacher, has a vision for helping new writers. His blog is dedicated to just that. Industry news and tips from publishers and authors. Here's a recent article I wrote at The Ruff Draft: Six Essential Elements of a Novel.

I'm always looking for new opportunities to write on the web and appreciate John letting me post from time to time . . . probably about once a month. Hope you'll check it out.

An Excellent Opportunity for Writers

Want to learn from a published pro? An author who has a passion for teaching? In less than two weeks, SUSAN MAY WARREN is coming to Tulsa. Check it out:

TWO GREAT SESSIONS

WHEN: FRIDAY, APRIL 16th, 2010
5:45: Registration & refreshments
6:15–9:00 PM: Session with Susan May Warren
WHERE: ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST
5050 E. 111th | Tulsa, OK 74137

THE FIVE SECRETS OF A PUBLISHABLE NOVEL
What is keeping you from being published? If you want to be an author, or even have a few written manuscripts on the shelf, discover the five things you can do to make your manuscript publishable with bestselling, RITA award-winning author Susan May Warren.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010
9:00 am - 5 pm with a lunch break (to be determined by participants)
Brunch, snacks, and drinks will be provided. Come with pen and paper ready to learn!

A DAY WITH THE BOOK THERAPIST
(directions and details to be emailed to registrants)

Struggling to bring your character to life? Problems with a plodding plot? Not sure how to find your voice? I understand – I’ve been there, and learned a few tricks and techniques on how to solve these problems, and more. Come with your ailing manuscript and share your problems with best-selling, RITA award-winning author Susan May Warren, and learn how to become your OWN book therapist. Limited to WIN / ACFW members.

Click here for cost and registration information for both sessions.

SUSAN MAY WARREN is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-six novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multiwinner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year. A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.

Writing Nostalgia - Part Two

Things to consider when writing nostalgia:

There must be a reason for placing your story in a certain year or decade. To simply place a story in a past decade because it sounds cool is not enough. You need a backdrop of world events or social customs that are unique to the era. Some examples from the 1950s and 60s might be the fear of communism, man first entering space, the Civil Rights movement, or the emergence of a new sound in music (Elvis, the Beatles). The backdrop doesn’t have to be a part of the plot but will give texture to your story and make it ring true. Everything else springs from this so choose your era and events wisely.

Research is vital. Even if you grew up in the age you’re writing about, it’s important to double check the facts: the year a song first came out, what was on TV at the time, brand names, and products. It’s surprising how many everyday items we use today have been developed only in the last thirty or forty years. If you’re not accurate, more than likely, someone reading your story will spot a mistake and tell you about it. Building trust with your reader should be a priority.

Note: This is true no matter what you write. I once hurled a book by a very famous author across the room for a blatant error that would have taken thirty seconds to research. Don’t be lazy about research.

Vivid, specific details that elicit emotion. This is probably my favorite part of writing nostalgia. Sights, sounds, and smells that capture the flavor of the era draw your reader in. I use a lot of music in my writing because nothing nails an era like its particular “sound.” Smell can evoke memories of a farmhouse kitchen or a trip to the lake or the cologne of a favorite relative. Hair styles and clothing provide visual cues that can illicit emotion—the torture of sleeping in brush rollers or the twirl of a poodle skirt at a sock hop.

Language and slang. Certain phrases come and go and can be good markers for an era. You hardly ever hear anyone today say, “cool cat” or “the cat’s pajamas.” Likewise, you should refrain from having your vintage characters say modern phrases like, “Awesome” or “That was phat.” (disclaimer: these may not be the “in” phrases today but were in the recent past, so I’m just a saying . . . ) Language and slang, can create a doorway to the time period as well as give regional distinction to your writing.

A few resources to help you with phrases and slang:
Online Etymology Dictionary
Meanings and Origins of Phrases, Sayings, and Idioms
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: Eleventh Edition

Most of all, have fun. Accept the challenges and immerse yourself in the favorite parts of the era you’ve chosen. The ultimate sweet reward is having a reader say, “How did you know what my childhood was like?” or “I felt like I was there and didn’t want to leave.”

Isn’t that the goal of all good fiction? To transport the reader into our fictive dreams and give them an emotional experience?

Less than three months until Chasing Lilacs comes out. In the next few months, I’ll be sharing some of the things that have been going on behind the scenes and what’s coming up. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments, okay?

Writing Nostalgia - Part One

Boomer Books are in! Or so I’ve heard. So are historicals, and what might be historical to you may only be slightly nostalgic to me. Boomer books fall into a pretty wide array of genres and can be set in any decade from the fifties through the present day. They can have older protagonists unknotting their pasts or they can have child narrators (sometimes coming-of-age tales). The possibilities are pretty wide open, and here’s the cool thing: they appeal to a large audience – female baby boomers make up >27% of the total U.S. female population according to a 2003 MetLife analysis.

I love reading these books, so as a natural extension, I’m also drawn to write for that audience as well. It fulfills both the “write what you know” and “write your passion” elements that craft books talk about. Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers the Big Bopper, how to twist and shout, doing the hully-gully and the monster mash. I lived the wonder years and now love writing about them.

From the title of this post, you probably noticed that this is part one, so sit back, strap on your seatbelts and journey with me while I tell you what I’ve learned about writing nostalgia.

For a moment, close your eyes and try to remember the perfume your mom wore when you were a child. Do you ever catch a whiff and feel like you’ve been transported back into another time?

Do you remember the song they were playing at your first dance? Were you on the sidelines waiting for someone . . . anyone to ask you to dance? Or were you the one the guys stood in line for, waiting their turn to jitterbug with you?

When you were younger, did you ever lay on a blanket under the nighttime stars and trace the Big Dipper with your finger?

Taking a reader on a journey where the memory is engaged through sensory detail is what nostalgia is all about. Webster’s defines nostalgia as: 1) the state of being homesick; 2) a wistful or sentimental yearning for a return to the past.

Just as a child says, “Mommy, tell me the story of when I was a baby,” adults also enjoy an occasional trip back to the age of innocence and the simplicity of childhood. Whether we have wonderful memories or tragic ones, it was still a time when we felt deeper and more passionately about everything. It is the time when we were literally taking the first steps to becoming who we are today.

Curt Iles, a writer I met recently said it like this. “Life was good, but never easy.” Yes, there were challenges. Adolescence was just as traumatic then as it is today. Who doesn’t remember the acne? Fitting in with the “in” crowd? Your first driving lesson? Or your first car? What it felt like to get a first kiss? I suspect there’s a bit in all of us that is homesick for the “good old days.”

Nostalgia is giving readers a “getaway” from today’s hectic pace one story at a time. Simple, huh? Not simple, but certainly a satisfying pursuit. If you’ve decided to try your hand at writing nostalgia, and you have a story that burns within you, there are some things you might consider. Please join me on Thursday when I’ll share my tips.

In the meantime, have you read anything lately that you think might be a Boomer book? Have you written one yourself? Chat away.

TEN TIPS FOR ENGAGING YOUR READERS

I'm blogging today at
Seriously Write.
Join Annette Irby, Dawn Kinzer, and me today as I share
Ten Tips for Engaging Your Readers.


See you there!

Fiction Marketing Seminar in Dallas

Me? Marketing? It's not an endeavor that I thought would be critical in my writing career, let alone my life. Apparently it is. And I think it’s something I’m going to love once I get the hang of it. I took a step of faith this past weekend and went to The Master Seminars first fiction marketing workshop taught by Chip MacGregor and Jim Rubart. They not only have expertise in both publishing and marketing, but are really nice and easy to relate to as well.

Our group for the two-day seminar

All six of us who attended write vastly different things, but I’m glad to say I’ve made new friends who were fun to brainstorm with and discuss my favorite topic – writing. We also got to know each other during free time and at meals.

Without going into a lot of detail, here are some of the highlights.

• Basic marketing concepts – Know yourself and your target market. Be unique. Be first with the great idea. Be intentional.
• Know your strengths and the roadblocks that hinder you. Build a marketing plan around your strengths and execute it.
• Listening to other novelists talk about their work was really beneficial in seeing how personality and message depends on the individual and must be an integral part of a marketing plan that works.
• The last day of the seminar, we each formulated a specific market plan for our books. We did this in a group with Chip and Jim giving their thoughts and helping us think through the ideas. Some were revolutionary. Some were daunting. But all were specific for each of us.
  

Other subjects were covered as well – branding, writing great copy (websites/blogs), and working with publishers and publicists. I’d rather leave the nuts and bolts to the experts. Both Chip MacGregor and Jim Rubart share their wisdom about publishing and marketing around the web. Chip’s blog is straightforward with emphasis on current trends in publishing. Jim is currently doing a three-part marketing series on agent Rachelle Gardner’s blog. And you can learn more about The Master Seminars here.

Jim Rubart, Tiffany Colter (seminar coordinator and the one who took good care of all of us), and Chip MacGregor

Stay tuned. I’ll be sharing some of the exciting things I’ve planned for the launch of Chasing Lilacs. I also invite you to take a look at some of the editorial reviews recently posted on Amazon.

Introducing Debut Author MYRA JOHNSON with AN IMPERFECT CHRISTMAS

I’ve anticipated having my friend, Myra Johnson, here at the café for months. This time last year we both lamented whether we would EVER be published. Myra got the first contract, and honestly, I couldn’t have been happier. I’m looking at her to pave the way!

Myra’s first book – from Abingdon Press – officially releases TODAY, but it’s actually been available on Amazon and in bookstores for a few weeks. So, let’s hear it for Myra!!
Welcome to Carla’s Writing Café.

Café: Congratulations on the release of your first book, One Imperfect Christmas. I’ve read it (SEE REVIEW AT THE END OF THIS POST) and am so proud for you. Great job! I know you’ve been writing for a long time, so tell us how your first “publishing” deal came about.

Myra: In July 2008 during my daily check of several favorite blogs, I saw that Brandilyn Collins had just returned from ICRS, where she’d met Barbara Scott, the editor heading up a brand new fiction line from Abingdon Press. Barbara had agreed to accept e-queries from Brandilyn’s blog readers. With hours my query was on the way. Barbara asked to see a proposal, and by August I had a contract offer!

Café: Why this particular book? Where did you get the idea?

Myra: Several years ago I got the bug to write a heartwarming Christmas story, the kind they make into Hallmark movies. The germ of the idea came to me in the middle of the night—a couple ready to celebrate their 50th Christmas together until something intervened. It took some brainstorming to come up with the right characters and plot, and then several incarnations of the basic story until it evolved into what it is today.

Café: Which comes first for you – the characters or the plot (premise)?

Myra: In this case, it was apparently the premise. I can’t use the word plot because I am a confirmed seat-of-the-pants writer! I have no idea what’s going to happen scene by scene until I’m in the midst of writing. Often, though, I start getting ideas about certain types of characters, who gradually flesh out in my imagination. I ponder what kinds of situations would cause them the most trouble, which areas they most need personal growth. Character and premise play off each other until I find the right combination and the story begins to take shape.

Café: How do you develop characters? Charts? Interviews? Or do you just start writing?

Myra: Most recently I’ve tried simply free-writing my characters’ biographical sketches in their own voice. It’s sort of like an interview because I pretend they’re talking to me, but I don’t ask specific questions. I just let them tell me whatever they want to. I like to find representative photos so I have a real person to picture as I write. In fact, even just browsing photos on sites like iStock and Getty Images can spark ideas for character and plot development. Once I get started writing, I do try to keep a chart of basic character details for the sake of consistency.

Café: I know you’ve won a few contests. Has that helped you on your road to publication? And what is the most important thing you’ve learned from contests?

Myra: I can’t quantify how much contests helped toward publication, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt to have a few successes in my résumé. Contests also help a writer build a tough hide for editorial criticism. The most important thing I’ve learned is that judging is highly subjective. What one judge praises, another will have problems with. That’s real life. You can’t please everyone, so you have to trust your own instincts—but only after you’ve honed them through study, practice, and extensive reading of authors whose work you admire.

Café: What advice do you have for new writers?

Myra: Don’t be in a hurry. Learn your craft. Attend conferences. Join a critique group. Read. And write!

Café: Building a platform is something we hear a lot about these days, and you are on a number of blogs. Please share with us the benefits of blogging – both personally and with a group of writers.

Myra: I have my own blog, but it’s hard to keep it updated as often as I’d like. And besides, I don’t think of my everyday life as all that interesting! Not to mention the blogosphere is growing more crowded every day. Who has time to read everything that’s out there, much less leave witty comments? That’s one reason there are definite advantages to the group blog. At Seekerville, there are 15 of us, each assigned one day a month, plus we always have several guest bloggers on the schedule, so no one gets overburdened. A group blog is also helpful for unknown writers because of the shared information and extended outreach. The key is to find a niche and then make your content as interesting and relevant as you can. A little humor goes a long way too—and in Seekerville we always have plenty of cyber-snacks! ;>D

Café: What other book projects are you working on? Titles and release dates?

Myra: Coming out in mid-October will be my contemporary romance Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents). This is the first of three novels set in Missouri. Next up, some time in 2010, are Romance by the Book and Where the Dogwoods Bloom.

Café: Coffee? Tea? Sparkling mineral water? Or . . .

Myra: I enjoy a pot of Earl Gray green tea every morning. Iced tea with meals and Diet Caffeine-free Dr Pepper for an afternoon refresher. And the occasional diet cherry limeade from Sonic!

Café: It’s your turn. Any closing thoughts?

Myra: This past year has been an amazing whirlwind adventure! Sometimes scary, sometimes exciting, always a learning experience. More than once I’ve used the phrase “Be careful what you pray for because you just might get it!” I’m thrilled to have achieved this lifelong dream, but the reality is that there is so much more to being published than I ever imagined. Every day begins with a prayer for wisdom about priorities and guidance about each next step.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Carla! You are a true friend and a fabulous critique partner. I can’t wait until next year when I’ll be interviewing you about your debut novel on my blog!

Café: Myra, my friend and critique partner extraordinaire, I’m so happy for you!! I wish you much success with One Imperfect Christmas and your future books. I’m so glad to be sharing this writing journey with you. Thanks for stopping by.

CARLA'S REVIEW: One Imperfect Christmas puts together all that is perfect about Christmas—family, faith, celebration of life and the birth of Christ. It also gives us a glimpse into life’s imperfections—loss, guilt, self-doubt, and the pain of having a loved one suffer in illness.

Natalie Pearce faces the same frustrations many busy women do—the responsibilities of maintaining a home, trying to quell her temper with a husband whose job is top priority, and providing guidance for an adolescent daughter who can be a handful at times. Add to that a budding career for herself and helping out with her retired parents, and it’s easy to see how Natalie falls into the “guilt” trap when her mother has a debilitating stroke. Blaming herself for not being there, Natalie erects a wall around herself, alienating her family and giving her father more worry instead of help in caring for the mom who’s confined to a nursing home.

One Imperfect Christmas is a family’s journey through broken marriage, misunderstood feelings, and the lengths to which a young teen will go to bring her parents together and be the catalyst for healing and peace. Warm and heartfelt, the writing is deeply introspective, and there were times I didn’t like Natalie very much, but as we are all vulnerable to life’s traumas, she was also relatable. Who among us is always likeable? And even more, who hasn’t experienced the need for divine intervention more than a few times in our lives?

Myra’s debut book is one to ponder, to reflect on our own relationships, and to celebrate the joys of Christmas.

Order One Imperfect Christmas here.

COLLOQUIALISMS, EUPHEMISMS, & MALAPROPRISMS

Language is a peculiar and yet magical way that we communicate ideas, tell stories, persuade others, and learn vast amounts of both trivial and essential knowledge. Since the first grade when I mispronounced “Nancy” in my reader—I said Nancky—I’ve been on a mission to conquer this world of words. I love finding a new word or phrase that dances off the page in perfect resonance to what’s happening in a story. I even have a few pet phrases I use from time to time in my own writing.

Recently my critique partner commented on a couple of them that were unfamiliar to her. Both were things I’ve heard all my life and wrote them without thinking, but it got me thinking about whether I had used them in the precise manner I intended. So I did a quick Google search for their origin and meanings.

She didn’t know up from sic ‘em.

Variations:

She doesn’t know sic ‘em

She doesn’t know sic ‘em twice

. . .here from sic ‘em

. . . sic ‘em from come here

. . . sic ‘em from go get ‘em.

The term is more common in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest, thus falling in to the colloquial category. The meanings vary slightly—some derogatory, some just a casual description of a person who knows nothing, has diminished capacity, is a dunderhead or ignorant, sometimes used to describe an unresponsive or shiftless person. The term probably originated from people who owned dogs that wouldn’t follow commands, hence the ignorant connotation. Similar to saying a person doesn’t know beans or is dumber than a box of hammers.

Since the person I referred to in my manuscript is mentally incapacitated due to Alzheimer’s and I don’t want to assign a derogatory quality to her, I will probably choose another term that evokes a more sympathetic tone.

Vim and Vinegar—another phrase I used that gave my critique buddy pause. This is a common malapropism which is the combination of two different phrases that result in unintentional humor or the wrong context. The term comes from mixing the phrases vim and vigor and pi$$ and vinegar. Vim was a cleaning powder created in Liverpool, England; vigor, of course, means vitality or energy. The pi$$ and vinegar denotes some sort of extra kick. Combined into vim and vinegar, it means spirited, vigorous, maybe a bit of contrast. Which is the meaning I was going for in my recent manuscript as I describe two characters who are quite different, but are married and give off an adventurous energy. They are spunky and endearing, so I will probably keep the description.

Fine as frog hair. A term my dad is fond of saying when asked how he is. I like the irony of this phrase which means “I’m in good health and all is well.” It just has a more colorful ring than the usual Just fine, don’t you think?

I swan. During the edit phase of my upcoming novel, Chasing Lilacs, my editor asked what this term meant. Some people use it as a euphemism for I swear and is commonly heard in the South, where perhaps a genteel person wouldn’t swear, so they use a more accepted word. It also is used to denote surprise as is goodness gracious! or oh my Gosh! Another variation is I swanee or Swanee River, again seeming to be a euphemism.

These phrases flit about in my head, and I want to use them to give color and verisimilitude to my prose. I owe it to my characters to be true to them, and I owe it to my readers to transport them into the fictitious world I’ve created. But with that, I have a responsibility as an author to use colloquialisms, etc. correctly. I don’t take it lightly.

Oh! I just thought of another one. When I was a teenager and someone asked a question to which the obvious answer was yes, we would say Does a chicken have lips? We thought this was hilarious. Nowadays, the equivalent is the annoying, unoriginal Duh??

So that’s my language lesson for today. Have you heard any of these phrases before? Or used them? What colloquialisms, euphemisms, or malapropisms have you encountered or used to spice up your writing?

THE ESTATE SALE

I noticed the For Sale sign in the yard first. A quaint Tudor with cheerful daffodils and peonies lining the grill work in front of the entrance area. The home is on our daily dog-walking route, and often the elderly couple who lived there would wave from their webbed lawn chairs. During football season, OU and OSU flags stood staunchly side by side. We Oklahomans do like our teams, and this couple obviously showed no favoritism. Or perhaps they had a child or grandchild at each of the universities and lent dual support.

Soon after the realtor sign went up, a string of multicolored flags was strung from the metal grilled entrance angling to the street and a glaring Estate Sale sign was planted near the curb. A touch of sadness washed over me, and I mentioned to Max that I hoped the couple had gone to a lovely retirement home to enjoy their latter days. We discussed whether or not to have a peek, but it didn’t seem right to be pawing through the precious belongings of someone we’d seen, but never bothered to stop and visit with.

Three days into the sale, though, the neighbor across the street from the Tudor had taken advantage of the high traffic in the area and put out their own yard sale items, and I as I drove by, I thought I saw a depression glass pitcher worth looking at, so I stopped. Wrong color on the pitcher although it was the real deal and priced well. Nevertheless, I passed up the bargain and ambled across to the estate sale, where I learned the owners had recently passed away--within two months of each other. I hadn’t known.

I browsed, curious as always about what you can discern about people from their belongings, yet respectful, too. A sort of silent mourning for lives well lived.

In the formal living room, a little band of angels posed on a corner shelf. They made me smile. Throughout the home, well-worn furniture and sagging mattresses told of a long life and perhaps a couple who’d been frugal and not gone in for lavishness. Sparkling crystal glasses above the bar told me they’d taken time to celebrate special occasions or had the gift of hospitality.

In the garage, tables groaned under the weight of old books, Bible commentaries, stubs of pastel drawing pencils in their original boxes, and a stack of Hi-Fi records. The one on top had a smiling John Denver. An interest in art and music and a heart for God’s word endeared them to me.

In a cheery apple green bedroom, I knew a happy little girl had once lived. A child who’d loved animals from the books on the closet shelf: Caring for Your Pet Bird, Pudgy the Beaver, Hamilton the Hamster, Horace The Horse. A four-foot carnival panda leaned listlessly in a nearby stuffed chair.

In one of the bedrooms, I found the gilded bird cage that must have one day housed the pet bird. A Titche’s dress bag graced the closet door. A quick check on the Internet tells me the Dallas-based Titche’s ceased under that name in 1979 when Joske’s became the new owner. I didn’t peek to see what garment hung under the bag. It didn’t seem right, but I knew the lady of the house had style.

In the last bedroom, an ivory wedding gown hung elegantly in a visible spot. The delicate lace, high neck, and waist that dipped in told of a lovely petite bride. I envisioned her smile on the long ago day when she’d walked down the aisle. I wondered why no one had claimed the treasure and was sorry I’d never taken the time to stop and even say hello.

Had they been alone during the sunset of their lives? Would a pot of soup or a friendly visit have made their final days easier to bear? I’ll never know. I only regret that we passed by the Tudor house time after time and never really knew the saints who lived there. A pity.

I spent fifty-four cents on two vintage Little Golden Books. Perhaps they will remind me that someday I, too, will be old.

GENESIS 2009 FINALISTS

Today the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) announced the 2009 Genesis Finalists. This annual contest for unpublished authors is gaining more recognition each year and is a contest that's very close to my heart. The past two years I've been fortunate enough (thrilled and humbled) to final and then win my category. It's a nerve-wracking, exhilarating learning experience, but when I looked back over the past couple of years' finalists, I saw many names who've now been published or are contracted. Nice, huh?? The category winners will be announced at the ACFW conference in Denver this coming September.

So here they are: The 2009 Genesis Finalists:

CONTEMPORARY FICTION:

Sharon Ball
David W. Fry
Jennifer Griffith
Ane Mulligan
Patty Slack

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE:

Cathy Bryant
Kathleen Haynes
Lisa Jordan
Christy LaShea Smith
Eileen Astels Watson

HISTORICAL FICTION:

Nancy Herriman
D'Ann Mateer
Christina Miller
Sandi Rog
Christine Schmidtke

HISTORICAL ROMANCE (six finalist entries due to a tie, but one is a
double finalist):

Jody Hedlund (double finalist with two entries)
Lisa Richardson
Connie Stevens
Gina Welborn
Lacy Williams

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER:

David Fry
Anne Greene
Dineen Miller
Lynda Schab
Alan Schleimer

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:

Mary F. Allen
Wenda Dottridge
Danica Favorite-McDonald
Kelly Ann Riley
Janet Warren

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/SPECULATIVE FICTION:

Valerie Comer
Megan Ebba
David Fry
Suzanne Krein
Lisa Tuttle

WOMEN'S FICTION:

Cathleen Armstrong
Marie Wells Coutu
Candee Fick
Julie Garmon
Ashely Weis

YOUNG ADULT:

Kasey L. Heinly
Gretchen Hoffman
Susan Miura
Diana Sharples (double finalist with two entries)

Congrats one and all!

Here are some numbers for you to ponder:

• This year, the Genesis had a whopping 454 entries.
• That's a 43% increase from last year.
• Each of the 454 entries was given to three judges
• That translates to 1,362 entries to send back to entrants.
  

Camy Tang (the Genesis Coordinator) and her crew have done a phenomenol job. Next time you see her, you might tell her thanks. Also, if you recognize any names on this list, sent them a sweet note, okay?

NYT Best Seller JODI THOMAS on WOMEN'S FICTION

The first writers’ group that I belonged to back in my writing infancy days was the Panhandle Professional Writers in Amarillo, Texas. It was there I tried my fledgling wings and first heard of romance writer Jodi Thomas. In the ensuing years, Jodi has been on numerous bestseller lists, won three Rita awards, been inducted in the RWA Hall of fame and spread her wings too—into the genre of women’s fiction.

The room was packed at the OWFI conference (see my previous post) when Jodi spoke on women’s fiction. Since that’s my chosen genre, I paid particular attention. She shared some interesting facts about and distinctions of women’s fiction.

• Women’s fiction, which is often called mainstream fiction, is one of the fastest growing genres—a $28 billion per year market.
• The appeal of women’s fiction is based on the premise that women bond strong and hard.
• It makes the reader laugh and cry, often on the same page, and tugs at the heartstrings.
• It explores depth in relationships that can’t be shown in romance
• The woman is the star of the story—The way she changes IS the story.
• Not always contemporary. Can often be in a slightly different time period.
  
  Some writing tips for women’s fiction:


• Research: Always try to walk the land where the story is set. Interview locals. Visit shops where interesting gossip and social issues may give your story a new twist.
• Read and ANALYZE many types of women’s fiction to find your niche.
• Think of yourself as an explorer. Step out and learn new things. Develop a hunger for “the story.”
  
  Jodi’s recent releases in this genre are Twisted Creek and Rewriting Monday. They’re worth checking out.

One of the opportunities at the OWFI conference is the “Take a speaker to lunch” feature. A couple of my fellow Tulsa Night Writers and I invited Jodi and the Amarillo attendees to meet us. At a table for nine, we had the opportunity to learn more about Jodi Thomas. What a treat! She’s very gracious and willing to share her experiences and expertise. Thanks, Jodi, for a delightful lunch. Also waving to my Amarillo buddies—Phyllis Miranda and Natalie Bright. Seeing them all and hearing them talk my language makes me homesick for Texas.

Next up, I’ll be sharing about a session presented by another Texan with very close ties to Jodi Thomas. Hope you’ll stop back by and join me.

Out of curiosity—are any of you readers of women’s fiction? What authors do you like? Can’t wait to hear your answers.

BREAKFAST WITH TESS GERRITSEN

I’m just back from the annual OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc.) conference. As always I ate too much, stayed up too late, and basked in the company of four hundred other people who understand the concept of creating characters on paper who somehow are braver, more handsome, kinder or even more vindictive that the real people in our lives. This is what we do, what makes the blood course through our veins, and sends ripples racing up and down our spines. Going to conferences is one of the best perks of being a writer.

I always enjoy the sessions, the rich learning environment, and the people. Now I don’t know whether it’s just me or if I’m on the lookout more than the average conference attendee, but invariably I’m overwhelmed by surprises that pop up—unexpected connections, meeting new people who become instant soul mates, or hearing a writing concept that instantly clicks and propels me into a new direction in my writing.

This year held all that and more. Tess Gerritsen gave the keynote address on Friday night. Lovely, wonderful lady who shared her writing dream, her road to success, and her wisdom for what makes a great story. After her book signing that evening, several of us had the chance to talk with her up close and personal as we waited for the elevator. Graciously, she answered our questions and seemed in no hurry to dash off to her room. .

The following morning at breakfast, Tess also “happened” to come and sit with three of four of us at breakfast. Having talked to her the night before, it was like greeting one of the girls—our new friend. We found out about her fascination with the lightning and the horrendous rain we had in the middle of the night, how she frets and worries about her own kids the way we all do, and that she likes cantaloupe for breakfast. Just a genuine, delightful time. One of the nicest surprises from the conference.

A few facts about Tess Gerritsen:

• She wanted to write from the age of 7, but was encouraged as others from her culture (Chinese) to pursue a scientific career. She became a doctor.
• She pursued her writing passion by penning her first romantic thriller while on maternity leave with her first child.
• After eight published novels in the romance genre, she had an idea for a totally different story—a medical thriller about the kidnapping and killing of innocent children whose organs were then harvested for the wealthy who skirted the conventional transplant channels. This book, Harvest, catapulted her to the NYT Bestseller List and with successive novels, has established her as one of the most beloved medical suspense novelists today.
• Her best advice for writers: Find an idea that punches you in the gut and won’t let you go until you write that book.
  
  Wow! And amen to that.
  
  In the next couple of weeks, I’ll share some other providential meetings I had at the conference and some of the gems I picked up in workshops. Anyone out there a fan of medical suspense? Trust me on this—Tess Gerritsen is a master storyteller.

INTERVIEW WITH AMY DEARDON

I'm privileged to have Amy Deardon visiting the blog today. Hope you'll sit back and read about Amy, her book, A Lever Long Enough, and her insights about writing. After the interview you'll find Amy's article - Story Structure. Thanks, Amy, for visiting the Café today and allowing me to share your research with my readers. Congratulations on your recent book, A Lever Long Enough.

Carla, thanks for allowing me to visit!

Tell me a little about yourself?
I’m married and fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with our two children, now 15 and 13. In my life B.C. (before children) I did bench science research and taught anatomy and physiology at an undergraduate level.

How did this book come about? Or to put it another way, how did you decide to write this particular story?
Lever is about a small military team that travels back in time to film the theft of Jesus’ body from the tomb. I like to think of it as The Case for Christ meets The DaVinci Code.

In my mid-twenties, I undertook a personal quest to investigate the claims of Jesus’ resurrection with the goal of destroying them. To do this I studied biblical and extra-biblical accounts of Jesus and numerous commentaries by believers and skeptics alike, listed the facts agreed upon, and began to explore scenarios that could explain what was known. To my surprise and considerable dismay, the evidence kept pointing away from naturalistic explanations and eventually formed a virtually certain case for the resurrection of Jesus. Finally I admitted defeat and became a Christian.

I wrote this book because I was blown away by the case for the resurrection, and I wanted others to understand it.

So you were a scientist before you became an author? How has that helped you in your writing process?

Like science, fiction writing requires persistence and attention to detail. However, scientific and fiction writing are opposites. To write an article, you must put the facts up front: this is what was investigated, this is how, this is what was found. In fiction, to create tension you must always leave one or more questions unanswered. If a character says something, the other character can’t just answer, he must delay, or go off on a tangent; otherwise the writing is *on the nose* and boring. Another difference is that in scientific writing one must include all the details, whereas in fiction writing it’s important to only write what advances the story. For example, no one wants to read about how a character picks up a bottle of water, unscrews the lid, and takes a deep refreshing drink unless the character is about to give a speech and is afraid he will cough unless he can, just maybe, unobtrusively grab a bottle of water first. Jeopardy or tension needs to be in everything.

The biggest surprise I found when writing fiction was just how vulnerable it felt. Scientific writing is technical and impersonal.

What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer?

The temptation for me is always to just rip ahead and write. I did this with Lever – I was learning fiction techniques as well so it probably wasn’t so bad, but I ended up throwing out so many many pages of good writing because the story wasn’t going in the right direction. I didn’t know why not, just that it wasn’t right.

For my current book, I laid out an outline and write from that. I go off on tangents, of course, but before I go too far down a new uncharted path I analyze the direction to fit it into the story. It seems to work for me. There is nothing neat about piecing a story together though; even with the best preparation it takes a great deal of trial and error, because things always look different in the writing from what you planned.

How did you develop the characters in your novel? Charts? Interviews? Or did you just start writing?

I knew generally who they were. As I wrote, the story events forced me to make more choices of what they were like, and I also invented story events that would test them precisely at their weak points. It was an organic process, an interaction between character and plot.

What do you want the reader to gain from A Lever Long Enough?
I’d like someone to race through the story to find out what happens next, then shut the book and say, wait a minute… My goal was to demonstrate (without the use of fictional miracles) just how remarkable is the case for the resurrection. My prayer is that God can use this book to open the mind and heart of a skeptic.

Who’s your favorite author?

My favorite fiction author is Michael Crichton – I love his amazing premises and intricate plots.

What is the latest book you’ve read?
I just reread Testament by John Grisham. This is a surprisingly spiritual and inspiring book, thoughtful.

Coffee? Tea? Sparkling mineral water? Or . . .
Every morning I make a big pot of tea and drink as I write. It’s very soothing. I’ve recently discovered white tea (Lipton makes an awesome blend with mango and peach flavors), but I also like spearmint, and chai. Earl Grey is the pits (never understood why Captain Picard on Star Trek requested this!)

Coffee? I can drink it without gagging, but it’s never to be chosen, at least by me. My husband loves it though.

Seltzer with a little bit of orange juice, please.

Shall we move on to chocolate?

What new project (s) are you working on?
I currently have two book projects. The first is my prequel, Nest Among the Stars, about the space station disaster that occurs to one of my main characters (Sara) before she emigrates to Israel. It’s a lot of fun for me to be writing, and involves the time machine in an unusual way.

The other project came about from my experience writing Lever: after finishing, I decided there MUST be a better way to organize a story, so I took maybe a year dissecting numerous novels and movies to better understand how a narrative is put together. The Story Template describes the algorithm I’ve developed to allow a writer to develop a resonant, compelling inner/outer story (novel or screenplay) from the germ of an idea. I’ve refined it through story-coaching multiple students, and am excited because this method of story development truly seems to work!

Can you tell me a little more about your algorithm?
I was amazed to find how remarkably consistent story is even across genres. The events may be different, but they always cause the story to twist in a certain way. Briefly, story can be divided into four themed quarters, and is marked by story posts at predictable locations. (Some of the posts landed within a range of just 2 or 3 percentage points of the whole in all the stories I looked at).

The structure of story, I believe, is laid deep within our souls, not invented but merely described. The closer the outer form of a novel or film conforms to this inner template, the more the story will resonate within us. Interestingly, the events during the last week of Jesus’ life as described in the gospels, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his resurrection, perfectly mirror the proportions of the story template. I believe that God implanted this story template into our minds as yet one more way we may respond to Him.

It’s your turn. Any closing thoughts or words of wisdom?
Just, the Lord is awesome! Everything goes back to Him.

Thank you, Amy, for being my guest today. I’ve loved having you and wish you all God’s best with your writing. Read reviews and buy A Lever Long Enough here. You can learn more about Amy Deardon here. You can also find the story tutorial for preliminary story development she developed here.

STORY STRUCTURE by Amy Deardon

In my studies of story structure, the biggest surprise I found was how little story development varies. My dear friends, we are such very boring creatures! No matter the genre, the same development of story events occurred, over and over and over. For this blog entry I wanted to give a quick summary of story structure according to me. Much of this is not original work -- I'm not that brilliant -- but I've synthesized the work of smart people with my own humble observations to come up with a model of story structure that works for me, during my work in coaching writers.

During my studies, I tore apart about 20 *good* modern novels (ie novels that I enjoyed), ranging in genre from literary to adventure to mystery to YA to science fiction, plus a bunch of movies. I did word counts or timed scenes with a watch, listed everything into columns, and then analyzed the commonalities of story progression across genre.

The story can be divided into four more-or-less equal parts, each part with a distinct theme. Furthermore, there are definite story POSTS that occur reliably in the progression of the story, and land reliably within a range of a few percentage points of the whole. I'll put them down very briefly, and use the film *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* to illustrate. BTW I could have picked just about anything to illustrate, but this is a cute movie :-)

ACT ONE: demonstrates the original or starting position of the protagonist, plus the set up to show how he moves into the main story.

Ordinary World -- shows what the protagonist's *normal life* is like. Toula is a 30 year old unmarried Greek woman working in her (extremely intrusive) family's restaurant.

Inciting Incident -- shows a potential change offered to the protagonist, either a choice or an assignment. Toula finds a college brochure that might offer her an opportunity to achieve something different by taking a few classes.

Argument -- the protagonist isn't sure if he will enter the new world or not. Toula must convince her father to allow her to take some courses at the college.

Door -- represents a *journey* into the new world. Toula enters the college campus and starts taking classes.

ACT TWO FIRST PART: the protagonist learns how the *New World* works, and also thinks that once this little journey is over he will be *unchanged* (able to straddle or return to the Ordinary World). This is often shown as a series of three encounters, each increasingly involved.

Toula is shown changing her image to become more glamorous (hair, clothing, ditching the glasses, makeup etc.), answering questions competently in class, and socializing with other students (something she couldn't do as a kid).

Midpoint: an often flashy event that represents either a false high, or a devastating loss, that makes it clear the protagonist can no longer go back to his Ordinary World. Toula meets Ian, a high school English teacher, and starts dating him even though she knows her family will *never* accept him because he isn't Greek. Shortly afterwards, Nikki tells Toula that the family knows about her romance with Ian, and then Toula must sit before the disapproving family committee that tells her to break it off.

ACT TWO SECOND PART: the protagonist scrambles to regain equilibrium while the antagonistic forces gain power. Toula's family tries to match her with other *suitable* bachelors without success. Finally Ian proposes to Toula, who joyfully accepts, but her family only reluctantly agrees. Ian yields to these powerful forces by becoming *Greek*: becoming baptized and participating in Greek family activities, including a fabulous party in which Ian's conservative parents are contrasted with the noisy Porticullis clan.

Slide: another often flashy event that serves as a funnel. The nature of the climax is now clearly seen. Often there is a sort of *death* present here; think Obi Wan against Darth Vader in the first Star Wars movie. (observation courtesy of Blake Snyder in his Save the Cat!, a book I highly recommend). Toula comes home with her wedding plans, only to learn her family has already ordered the invitations and the bridesmaids' dresses.

ACT THREE: the protagonist gears up for the final encounter, although it looks unlikely that he will ever win. Toula is dismayed that her family is so intrusive, and that her family and Ian's are so different.

Darkest Moment: The very worst position that the protagonist can possibly imagine. While preparing for the wedding that morning, Toula realizes she will never be free of her family.

Help from Outside: a small action that allows the protagonist to regroup and win. This story post I recognized courtesy of Nancy Rue and Angela Hunt in a NANGIE writing class I took a few years ago. Toula's grandmother shows Toula her own wedding crown, and Toula realizes that her family all love her and that she is connected to her family in a deep and profound way.

Climax: an often flashy sequence in which the protagonist ultimately wins, if not the outer conflict then certainly the inner (think Rocky). Toula and Ian have a beautiful, Greek, wedding and reception. Toula's father makes a joke that shows how Toula's family and Ian's family, although different, are ultimately the same.

Resolution: tells how the protagonist's life will go on. Toula and Ian are shown several years later in a house next door to her family's house, walking their daughter to Greek school.

******OK, there is the story structure in miniature, sort of. Try laying these story points over any story you like -- you'll be surprised at how well they'll match!This column is for dear friends. I hope it provides some food for thought.***copyright 2008 by Amy Deardonall rights reserved.

Carla here. Story structure used with permission. I loved having Amy here and will be looking closely at my own WIP to see how it measure up. Would love to hear your comments. What sort of story structure do you use?

THE SWEET SORROW OF PARTING

I use to frequent antique stores, where invariably a kindly shop owner would ask if there was a specific item I was looking for. A gentle shake of the head would send them scurrying behind their counters and leave me to peruse the wares at my leisure. The thing was, I often didn’t have anything in particular in mind, but when it appeared, my heart would amp up a notch and I would know—this is it! Perfect.

That’s how it was with you. I had a sense that I was looking for something, rolling the possibilities over in my head. I didn’t go in strenuous pursuit, but there was a void waiting to be filled. When you came, it startled me at first, and I pretended you weren’t there. But already, you’d flirted with me and whispered, “I’m the one.”

Afraid of taking your hand, I held back, but you ignored me and set up house in a room in my heart where you waited patiently for me. You weren’t pushy, yet you stoked the fire in me and wrapped your tendrils around my fibers. When I acknowledged the inevitable, it was time to introduce you to my circle—just a few in the beginning, then an every-widening expanse. At every turn, kind eyes lit with approval, welcoming us.

Those early days were magical—words flew from my fingers as I wrote with you beside me. My muse. My encourager. And at night I would dream about you. About the future.
I admit, there were days when I paid you no mind. Not just days, but sometimes weeks on end when life intervened and I strayed away from you. Yet every time I returned, you were there, waiting with a golden glow that said, “Glad you made it.”

Me too. As a matter of fact, you made me so proud, I wanted to show you off to the world. We ran off to Amarillo and were met with a “Howdy Y’all” and a round of applause. Another time, in Oklahoma City, you perched beside me, calming me with your presence. When our name was called, we floated in tandem to shake a few hands and have our picture made.

So caught up with you I was in those days that when murmurings came warning me not to get too attached, I disregarded them. Yet, sometimes in the dark of night I would convince myself that should we part, I would survive. But that would be sometime in the future, not now.

We journeyed to Dallas and raised a few eyebrows, but in the midst of so many scribes, we were only a ripple. Still, they engraved your name . . . and mine on a plaque. Texans are generous like that.

When a West Coaster called and inquired about you, I was stunned. You, of course, said nothing, but gave me a playful wink. We’d been called for a higher honor. We danced with joy and waited, wondering if we could touch the stars or travel to heights unknown. The next summons came from the other direction, from the land of country music. Fitting really, since we were but two country critters at the core.

And again, the murmuring crept into casual conversations. Be careful. You don’t want your heart to be broken. We lifted our heads and nodded, then together we sighed in contentment when our names were joined on a dotted line.

The blow came when neither of us was looking—almost in the same way we had begun. We didn’t expect it, then there it was. But now, only one of us would continue on.

I don’t feel as brave now, and I will miss you, my friend. You’ve been a faithful companion, the best there is. My heart is sorrowful as I say good-bye to you, my Dandelion Day. I’ll try my best not to let you down.

Always,
Carla, who is awaiting the new title of her soon-to-be-published book, the one formerly known as A Dandelion Day.

Guest Blogging Today at On The Write Path

Erica Vetsch has been on of my faithful cheerleaders on this writing journey. We were finalists together in the 2007 Genesis contest. How fortunate I am to have become good friends with her.

She has me on her blog today if you'd like to read more about my writing journey.

MEET THE THERAPISTS at My Book Therapy

Please join me in welcoming once again the creators and geniuses from My Book Therapy on their LOVE TO WRITE tour.

Today, some personal thoughts from Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, and Sarah Sumpolec.

Thoughts from Therapist Susan May Warren: Writing the story of your heart

Q: Have you ever had a story that you wanted to write, a spiritual message you wanted to share, but it won't let you just yet?

A: Yes, I have a couple stories sitting in my heart that I haven’t had the opportunity or perhaps the divine timing to write yet.

I’m a firm believer that God will work out the story in the right time, so I continue to collect ideas, impressions, do research and let those ideas soak, waiting for the right timing. But sometimes I’m not ready – emotionally, or even professionally to write it. Maybe I don’t have the skill level yet. And I certainly don’t want to waste my swan’s song on mediocre writing! So, in the meantime, I move onto the stories I have the ability to write right now.

This is what happened with my “Josey” series. The story of my hilarious happenings in Russia simmered in my heart YEARS before God opened the door to write it. And when he did, the timing was perfect. (My first book in that series, Everything’s Coming Up Josey was a Christy finalist). The same thing happened with “Nothing but trouble.” I cooked up my heroine PJ Sugar four years before I saw it come to publication. And I’m glad I waited – I hope I did Sugar justice! (Nothing But Trouble hits the stands May 2009! Read a preview at http://gotsugar.susnamywarren.com)

I think a lot of writers believe they have to write the stories on their hearts…but perhaps they’re also not ready to write that story yet. I think it’s wise to ask God if it’s time…or if there is another story that could hone your skills in the meantime, in preparation for that heart story.

So, don’t give up on your heart story. Wait on Him, and be open to working on something else in the meantime.

God Bless you on your writing journey!
Susan May Warren
Founder, www.mybooktherapy.com

A therapist thought: Writing in the midst of a busy life.
By Rachel Hauck

Early on in my writing life, I had to give up the notion that writing time would come easy, be ideal and full of inspiration.
When I signed my first book contract, I was working full time for a software company as a department manager. I’d recently become a worship leader at my church, adding that to my job as youth pastor’s wife. My husband and I also gathered with other area pastors to start a weekly multi-church prayer meeting and I’d become the Vice President of a national writers organization and was coordinating our second annual conference.

Writing? Yeah, like when? Where? And I didn’t even have children to raise. I felt pushed, pulled, torn, frazzled and on the edge. I’d never written a book to be published before. I’d not coordinated a conference and my committee was “out there” across America. If I failed, I’d let so many people down, including myself.

I lay in bed one night praying, trying to decide if I should just work up my courage and resign as Vice President and admit I couldn’t do it all. I didn’t need to be that kind of person. But as my final grasp for God’s grace, I whispered in the darkness, “Lord, you have a conference to coordinate, let me know what you need me to do.”

Peace washed over me. I didn’t resign. The Lord sent me a co-coordinator. The conference was a success.

And, I wrote my first book by June of that year and met my deadline.

A busy life seems impossible to avoid these days. We have so many options and opportunities available to us. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

1. Make sure the jobs or opportunities you embrace are really from the Lord. Don’t say yes out of guilt or even selfish ambition. Know that you know all you’re doing is right and good. Sure I had a full plate that one year, but I knew God had loaded me up for a reason.

2. Give it all back to Him. Ask for wisdom and grace, insight and help.

3. Let go of any and all concept that you have to be perfect. You’ll fail and it’s okay to fail. There were quite a few bloopers at that second annual conference, but we got past them. God’s grace was greater.

4. Get organized. Since I knew my book deadline, I wrote out my writing schedule on a calendar. I had a few extra vacation days so I scheduled them as mega-writing sessions. It’s not unholy, or ungodly to plan. Most of us fail in our sincerest desires because we live by the tyranny of the urgent. We don’t plan so our lives are governed by the moment. If we do plan, we allow ourselves to be knocked off course. Schedule writing time and STICK to it. If it’s one hour a week, then guard it with all your might.

5. Be confident before God. Know that He has good works planned for you to walk in. He loves you. He wants you to succeed.

In the midst of juggling my schedule, I worked hard to maintain my own intimate relationship with Jesus. It wasn’t always easy and I failed to reach my ultimate goal, but by having a goal, I found success. Otherwise, I might have drifted way away from the heart-to-heart relationship I wanted with Him.

There were a few tools I used to help me stay on track with my relationship.
1. I attended corporate prayer meetings.
2. I was faithful to all worship services.
3. I went early to youth church or main church to have prayer times.

Look for ways to fortify your spiritual as well as natural life.

1. Find a buddy to pray with or write with.

2. Ask your family to “do it with you.” As parents we spend time driving our children to school, music or dance, sports events. Wouldn’t they love to help mom or dad meet their writing goal? Bring them into the adventure with you.

3. Pray. Ask Jesus for grace. For help. If all else fails, use my prayer. “Lord, you have a book to write, let me know what I need to do.

If you find you just can’t manage it all, set is aside and wait. Maybe your season of writing is not yet. But keep taking notes, keep praying, keep learning.
God is faithful to keep us in His will. Even when we fail, He will not.
So exhale. Relax. Have fun.

Why I Love to Write YA

Sarah Anne Sumpolec

My first book idea grew out of my work with our church’s youth group. I tried going to Women’s Bible Studies and do all the grown up things, but I always felt called to care for the youth. So writing for them simply became a natural extension of what I already loved to do.

Even now, I spend more than twelve hours a week hanging out with eighty kids and teens at our local Christian Youth Theater. I like being around them. I love to encourage them. And I want to do all I can to help them as they grow in Christ. My own teen years were tough (whose weren’t?) and I didn’t have anyone to talk to or turn to. I simply want to be available to these teens. You just never know when you might get the chance to offer a few life-giving words from God.

So who I am as a person, and who I am as a writer are hopelessly intertwined. I’ve written five novels for teens and over and over, God has shown me how a simple story can affect the lives of teenagers. But they need more. I’ve lost track of how many letters I’ve gotten where a teen wrote, “I read all five of your books last week…” Teens are hungry for truth and stories that they can relate to. They need more great stuff to read that is written for them, by people who care about them.

The YA market can be tough. But we can’t write because a certain market is booming. We must write out of our God-given passions and that’s what YA is for me – a passion. So yes, I realize that Amish books sell really well, but I’m staying in high school. It’s where I belong.

Why I Love Being a Book Therapist

I love the whole concept of Book Therapy. Imagine! A place where you can get useful feedback? It could save people years of submitting. So often writers just get a “No, thank you” when they submit to publishers or agents. But that doesn’t help them improve or grow or discover what they can do to make their work better. When I first started writing, I had some precious people who offered me advice and help. They let me ask every silly question and answered each one with patience and love. So just as people gave to me so generously, I want to turn around and give back to others. My Book Therapy gives me a chance to do that. I think I was built by God to want to teach and encourage. I love looking for ways to strengthen a story or make the characters come alive on the pages. I love taking a good story to a great story by infusing it with layers and subplots and themes that will resonate with readers. I love seeing where a story can go when you give it wings.
I’m so glad I get to be a part of My Book Therapy, especially as a YA Specialist. Writing for Young Adults is something I am passionate about, so I have a vested interest in helping see that teens have great reading material in the years to come.

A Therapist’s Thought

I spend most of my weekends working as a director with a Christian Youth Theater. A typical show will have eighty kids that range in age from 8 to 18. As a director, I get to look at the big picture of what we want to accomplish and then help each kid do their best work to make that big picture happen. But these aren’t puppets, these are kids. So directing them must be about bringing the best out of each one of them individually. And at the end of it all, I am dressed in black, hiding in the wings, watching them shine on stage. I get so much joy out of it. I know I played a vital role, but I don’t need the applause – all I want is to see them bring joy to that audience.

Directing is a lot like Book Therapy. You’ve got this story to tell and you want to tell it in a way that’s going to have the greatest effect on your audience. A therapist can come in and help you find ways to make the story stronger, ways to make the characters more real, and ways to explore all the possibilities. Just like an actor can’t always see what the audience sees, a writer can’t always tell what effect their story is having until a skilled writer comes along and asks the hard questions.

And really, it can be hard. It’s natural for us to just want praise. It’s harder when someone comes along and says, “We’ve got some work to do here.” But it’s worth it. It’s worth it when you take a story to the next level and realize that you can impact your readers in new and amazing ways. It’s worth it when you discover tools that can help you grow. And it’s worth it when you finally get to share that story with the world. And at the end of it all, it’s still your story, your moment on stage to shine. But I’ll be the one in the wings cheering you on.

Carla here: For more on how to win the book co-authored by Susan and Rachel, go to my previous post where you can find the information at the bottom. Hurry! The contest ends February 28.

Blessed writing!

LOVE AND ROMANCE - A New Blog You'll Like

Do you like to hear how other writers who are also wives and moms keep the romance sizzling in their marriage? ROMANCE YOUR SPOUSE, this mostly G-rated blog is fun, informative, and a joint effort by five of my favorite romance writing friends (Hint: One is a relative). Pop over and check them out. When you do, you'll see why I'm particularly excited about today's guest blogger.