Writing is NOT just a solitary pursuit!

We've all heard it said that writing is a solitary pursuit. We can even visualize writers in ages past, slaving away in garretts or hermit-like abodes. In reality, writing is an endeavor built on forging relatioships.

• Between you and the reader
• Between the reader and the subject or characters
• Between you and the editor
• Between you and your agent
• Between you and other writers

I'll go even a step further and propose that writing something for publication is like going on a first date!

If you think about it you'll see it's true. With writing, like first dates, the first impression counts. When you write your first line is your first impression and many times it determines whether or not your reader will go any further in the relationship.

Mistake Number One
One mistake we make is in how we present our story (in fiction-especially book length). We've all met people who try to give us their life story in the first thirty seconds we meet. It's not comfortable and I often find myself running for the exit. This was illustrated in a popular episode of the TV show Seinfeld. Does anyone remember the 'Close Talker' episode? Sometimes we open our novels with too much information and we overwhelm the reader. There's a term for this, backstory.

Mistake Number Two
Another first date mistake we make in writing is in non-fiction. We've all met the person who exaggerates everything. It's hard to take anything they say at face value. I've actually found myself looking outside, if this type of person says it's sunny, just to verify the truth. We can come across that way in articles and non-fiction books if we aren't careful about where we get our facts. It takes time to do in depth research, but the reputation you'll have as a writer is priceless.

Mistake Number Three
The last mistake we sometimes make is the blind date. Now, I know there are exceptios to the rule, but generally blind dates don't end well. It also doesn't end well for us as writers if we don't know our audience. We have to take time to know who our audience is. This is equally true if we're writing books or articles or devotions.
So now it's your turn - how have your relationships with the reader turned out?

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Weekend Worship - Beneath the Cross

Welcome to Weekend Worship! This is a new section of my blog where I share a short devotion - just something to make us think. So join me here, every Saturday morning.
And don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie



Beneath The Cross

Last Easter I found myself huddled beneath the cross where Jesus hung dying.

Now, for those of you that know me, that’s not as strange as it seems. I love the theater; I even majored in costume design for a time in college. But now, my favorite theater is found in the church. I love being involved in church dramas. For me, the Bible comes alive when it’s being portrayed on the stage.

I do have to confess that I don’t like being one of those onstage – hence the major in costume design. I absolutely hate being in front of a large group of people. I’ve found my place, though. I love being part of the stage crew and that’s what I was doing last Easter.

So, last Easter I huddled beneath the cross while Jesus hung suffering. I was dressed all in black, trying to make myself as small as possible so I wouldn’t detract from the actor portraying Christ. But as I crouched there, I heard his groans and watched him writhe in agony. I heard the cry of the crowds and felt my heart chilled by their impassive faces as they observed the drama.

Was this the way it had been 2000 years ago? The question in my mind transported me to ancient Jerusalem as my heart flooded with parallels. It was no longer just a drama on stage, Jesus’ agony and sacrifice became real in a way I could never have imagined.

The black I wore represented my sin and my invisibility to God in my wretchedness.

My silence, while necessary and expected during the performance, stung me with the resemblance of real life. The world expects me to be silent about the cross, or at least tasteful. And so often I comply, remaining quiet instead of speaking out.

Finally my attempt to remain hidden reminded me that while the world might not see me as I really am, Jesus had a perfect view of me while he hung suffering.

Yes, last Easter I found myself huddled at the base of the cross where Jesus hung dying.

And I will never be the same.

Thursday Review - Snowflake Pro

Today I want to share a fiction writing program that I own and really love. It’s called Snowflake Pro. It was developed by writer, Randy Ingermanson.

This is an amazing program that takes you from the big picture of your story to the tiniest detail. I do have to admit that I tried this program reluctantly. I pride myself on being a ‘seat of the pants’ type writer—meaning I don’t outline the story in advance.

I thought a program like the Snowflake would cramp my creative style. Boy was I wrong! By helping me to get the details early, it freed my creative energy to work on the story. Now, I still don’t follow a concrete outline, but I love working with the Snowflake program as I develop my story.

Randy also has awesome customer service and the program runs on Mac or PC. It comes with an unbelievably generous license to run the program on up to 5 computers. All in all, this is one program I recommend.

NOTE: Randy also has a great e-zine for writers called Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine. It’s free and I read each issue every month!

Remember to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Connecting With Your Reader - Part 3

Last week I gave you some tips on how to connect with the reader through specific nouns and active verbs. This week I want to zero in on the specific verbs, nouns and adjectives we choose when we write.

I have to give a special shout out to author, Mindy Starns Clark, because she pointed this problem out in a manuscript I showed her last year. The particular piece I showed her was fiction, but I’ve found this technique just as helpful with articles and other non-fiction projects.

She pointed out that my verbs, and some of my adjectives didn’t match the mood of my scene. I was attempting to write a very tense scene where my main character was quite scared and tense. Instead of amplifying and reinforcing this mood with my verbs. I used pleasant verbs. Let me give you an example.

Setup: My main character, Pet, has just received a death threat on her cell phone.

Still clasping the phone, Pet scrambled into her wooly robe and rushed down the hall. As she plopped down in an overstuffed chair in the corner she dropped the offending phone beside her and began to massage her temples. How could this happen?

Notice the comforting words I unconsciously chose?

• Clasping the phone
• Wooly robe
• Plopped
• Overstuffed chair
• Massage

These particular words don’t convey the mood of the scene I was writing. Let me show you my rewrite:

Still clenching it in her fist, Pet scrambled into her robe and rushed down the hall barefoot, wincing at the cold hardwood floors. Without turning on any lights, she crossed into the living room and knocked her shin on the coffee table. She balanced on the edge of the couch, running her fingers down her shin to make sure there was no blood.

Notice the different word choices:

• Clenching
• Wincing at the cold hardwood floors
• Knocked her shin

The action in the two examples is basically the same, but the specific words I chose now matched the mood I wanted to convey.

To make this easier, get in the habit of making word pools. A word pool is a list of words that convey the mood or sense that you wish to show.

• Decide on the emotion your character is feeling and use specific words to convey that feeling.
• Layer in senses to reinforce the emotion.
• Don’t jar your reader with words that imply a different emotion

I use the technique of word pools when I write articles for print or online. For example, when I write for a men’s publication, I have a list of words that I think convey a specific masculine viewpoint. Conversely, I have a list of words that convey a female viewpoint. When I write for a men’s magazine, I’m very careful not to use any of those ‘girlie’ words.

Keep adding to your personal word pool lists and you'll find your writing will have a new depth. Here are a few topics tojumpstart your collection:

• stress
• joy
• fear
• excitement
• devestation
• worry

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Thursday Reviews, Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

Today I want to review one of my favorite writing books, Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

Unlike the other books I’ve reviewed so far, it’s not a book on the craft of writing. At least not in the sense of writing do’s and don’ts. It is inspirational. I found her honesty incredibly freeing. She shares the joys and pitfalls common to all writers. She reminds us that, while writing is a solitary pursuit, we are not alone.

My favorite chapter of the book is Sh***y First Drafts. I know the language is strong, but it got my attention. She gave me the permission I needed to write first, edit later. I realized it was perfectly fine to write the story or the article and come back a second or a third time to do the editing. I don’t know where I got the idea I had to be perfect. But in case you have the same struggle, she has a chapter on Perfectionism.

Where ever you are in your writing journey, I recommend you add Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird to your list of must-have’s. This book belongs on every writer’s reference shelf.

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Connecting With Your Reader - Part Two

Today I want to share how to connect better with your reader through your choice of words. Study these examples of how choosing active verbs and specific nouns makes a huge difference—whether you write fiction or non-fiction.

Example #1

The scent was fresh and new like a flower after the rain.

Verb choice - was
Noun choice – flower

This sentence isn’t bad, but it could be great. The writer is employing a technique called telling.

Example #2

The fresh scent hung in the air like a late blooming rose after the rain.

Verb choice – hung
Noun choice – rose (specifically a late blooming rose)

This sentence is great because it doesn’t tell us about the smell, distancing us from it. Instead, the writer invites us to remember a smell through a technique called showing.

Whether you're writing a story or an article, example #2 would be a better choice because it draws the reader in and invites them to experience what is happening.

Let’s look at two more examples.

Example #3

Susan felt restless.

Verb choice – felt
Noun choice – Susan

Again, the writer is telling us how Susan felt.

Example #4

Susan paced across the floor, wearing a pattern in the dust.

Verb choice – paced, wearing
Noun choice – Susan, floor, dust

Can you see the difference? The writer is again pulling us in with word pictures, showing us the action.
This week, look for places you can make your own writing more vibrant through active verbs and specific nouns!

Note: Telling isn't always bad. There are times when telling is better than showing. You should use telling when the action isn’t important or when it’s a common action that doesn’t need emphasis.

Now it’s your turn. Post a comment with this sentence rewritten.

Austin felt sad.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Thursday Reviews

Today, I'm pleased to announce a guest reveiwer, freelance writer and photographer, Mary Denman. Mary is one of my critique partners and I'm excited to bring you her review of Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein.

Are you thinking about writing a book one day? Maybe you already have a manuscript well under way. Then Sol Stein’s book, Stein on Writing is one you need to get your hands on quickly. A veteran editor of the publishing world, Stein takes his vast knowledge of the industry and offers you a chance to learn from one of the best.

What can you learn? Everything from creating fascinating characters to understanding plotting. He explains showing, not telling and how to create tension. Need to liposuction the flab from your writing? He covers that too. Throughout this book, Stein empowers you to go through your own work, whether you write fiction or nonfiction and edit it successfully.

His editor’s heart comes through in the teaching style found in the book. Not only does he explain what you need to know and look for to improve your writing, but he also gives examples from published authors to illustrate his point. And, to make sure you’re engaged and getting the most you can from the book, he has exercises in every chapter for you to put into practice what he just taught. This book will take you from the start of your manuscript to your final revisions.

When I talk to someone who’s just starting to write, this is one of the first books I recommend. It’s one of the foundational books for helping writers understand the many components and nuances of writing. The cover on my copy is starting to curl from use. Every time I pick up this book to reread it, I learn something new. And that makes it a valuable tool in a writer’s arsenal.

Mary Denman, a home-schooling mom with 5 kids, has been married to her college sweetheart Todd for 22 years. She began writing professionally a few years ago and has published articles in several magazine, including Focus on Your Child, by Focus on the Family. She’s also a published freelance photographer. She has finished her first novel for young adults and is well into the second book of the series.